O'Brien Gifts Pompey Point With Double Own Goal

Last updated : 29 December 2010 By Jim Bonner
Two own goals from Andy O'Brien, one of which was in the third minute of stoppage time, saw Pompey earn a 3-3 draw at Elland Road having been 2-0 down inside the first ten minutes.

Firstly, I have to apologise for the length of this report. Unfortunately, I missed the first half of the game due to yet another Vision Travel breakdown at Cherwell Valley and I, along with 14 other Pompey fans, had to wait until 12:30 for a replacement coach.

That meant that I didn't arrive at Elland Road until the end of the first half, full in the knowledge that Pompey had conceded two goals in the first ten minutes but had pulled one back thanks to David Nugent.

I asked a nearby fan how we had played in the first half and he mentioned that Utaka had missed a great chance to put Pompey ahead after he was put through by Nugent but Kasper Schmeichel saved his effort.

Then, straight after that, Leeds went down the other end and scored as Paul Connolly crossed and nobody in a black shirt picked up Max Gradel who tapped in at the far post from all of a yard.

Things got even worse just three minutes later as Jonny Howson doubled the home side's lead after more poor defending allowed him to run into the box and curl the ball past Ashdown.

The 15 of us on the coach were thinking of turning back to go home there and then as a thrashing was on the cards, but some good news was received just as the stadium came into sight as Nugent had reduced the deficit.

I saw the first half highlights at half-time and Nugent's goal was the pick of the bunch after the frontman arrowed the ball into the top far corner of the net from a tight angle.

From reports I've read since I got back, it seems that Pompey turned up the heat on Simon Grayson's men with Kitson having his overhead kick go just wide whilst another effort was cleared off the line.

The big screen at Elland Road would only show highlights of the hosts' missed chances with Billy Paynter's miss from close range being the biggest let off for Pompey in what seemed to be a very entertaining first half.

The second half was better from a Pompey point of view, despite Leeds dominating possession for periods of the game and Robert Snodgrass constantly got the better of Carl Dickinson on the flanks too.

Leeds scored again as Pompey failed to clear a corner properly which led to Bradley Johnson volleying past Ashdown. Thankfully, the celebrations lasted less than a minute as Pompey pulled one back immediately from the restart.

Greg Halford's surging run down the right led to him crossing the ball into the box which was met by the foot of Kanu, who set up Richard Hughes to strike the ball past Schmiechel.

Hughes celebrated but unfortunately for the Scot, who may have played his last game for the club, the goal was credited to Andy O'Brien who had done his old club a favour.

But the biggest favour would come in stoppage time when Nadir Ciftci's cross from the right caused confusion between Schmeichel and O'Brien who collided with each other. The ball came off the the foot of the former Pompey defender and trickled into the net which sent the travelling fans barmy!

You have to laugh at the Irishman who desperately lunged in vain to stop the ball from crossing the line but there was no mistaking that it did. Thanks, Andy! You've done more for us in a white shirt than you ever did in a blue one!

If I want to be picky I'd say that Pompey should have gone for the win in the final two minutes. A poor backpass from a Leeds player led to a corner but Pompey opted to take it short rather than whip it in and test the nervy Leeds defence one last time.

Still, to come back from two goals down (twice) against a team who are flying high is an excellent result and shows just how much character this team has, even if the defending continues to worry me.

I also felt that the referee may have spared us on one or two occasions. Leeds possibly should have had a penalty when Sonko barged McCormack to the ground whilst they also had a goal disallowed for a supposed shove on Ashdown.

So we may have been fortunate, but I certainly won't complain. Next up is a difficult trip to Watford who have found some form in the last couple of weeks, so that game may be even tougher than this one at Elland Road.