The 3-0 defeat was a rather harsh reflection on the game considering we had matched Everton for the first half, with their only chance coming from James Vaughan putting a shot wide when he was clear on goal. Pompey could have taken the lead right before half time as a crossfield ball put Gary O'Neil through on goal with only Howard to beat but he skewed his shot wide when he had more time.
Come the second half and it all goes to pot as the Pompey defence, who were missing Sol Campbell and Dejan Stefanovic went to pot and Glen Johnson challenged Vaughan from behind to concede a debateable penalty. It didn't look like a penalty in real-time but having seen the replay, Everton fans have a case. Arteta just managed to squeeze the ball past James from the resulting spot kick.
Arteta had been running the show all game and soon after his penalty Everton were two up after some awful defending from a corner allowed Joseph Yobo to get a header in unchallenged and the ball was missed on the line as it hit the back of the net. 2-0. Game Over.
Pompey came back into the game afterwards but it was too little, too late and Everton would rub salt into the wounds as Gary Naysmith headed in a third in stoppage time to put the gloss on the scoreline and damage our goal difference further.
Like I said before, 3-0 slightly flatters an Everton side who were galvanised by Arteta in the second half after we had matched them, and played some good stuff in the first half. Howard Webb's poor officiating didn't help the Pompey cause, giving the phrase "home advantage" it's full meaning but come the final whistle we could have no complaints about the result, though the penalty decision was the turning point.
We played some good stuff at times but loss of key players, especially at the back, along with no real cutting edge up front has cost us. I can't be too angry at the players because this wasn't a performance like the dire showings at Newcastle, Blackburn and Wigan this season. The good news is that despite this result, we can still qualify for Europe as Watford and West Ham beat Reading and Bolton respectively.
So that's our away programme finished for another season and yet again our away form has been poor and it's something Harry needs to figure out in the summer if we're to challenge for Europe next season. It does get a bit tedious shelling out £60 for an away game to see us get beaten time and time again.
Still, at least we're safe from relegation!
Pompey Player Ratings
David James: 7 - Didn't have too much to do in truth but made a couple of decent saves and had no chance with the goals.
Glen Johnson: 5 - Poor game defensively, not too bad going forward.
Linvoy Primus: 7 - Our best defender. Again.
Noe Pamarot: 5 - Outbattled by Vaughan and Anichebe.
Djimi Traore: 5 - Given the runaround.
Lauren: 6 - Didn't do too bad in midfield.
Sean Davis : 5 - Very very average.
Gary O'Neil: 6 - Decent performance but missed an excellent chance that would have changed the game.
Niko Kranjcar: 7 - I thought he played well again but why did Harry take him off when we were 2-0 down?
Benjani: 6 - Tried his hardest to create something but didn't get enough of the ball.
Kanu: 6 - Held the ball up well but didn't threaten.
Subs
Jamie Ashdown
Andy O'Brien
Arnold Mvuemba: 6 - Solid sub performance.
Roudolphe Douala: N/A - Late cameo.
Lomana LuaLua: 6 - Did what he could but never turned the game.