Pompey Edge Closer To Promotion

Last updated : 14 April 2017 By Jim Bonner

Pompey and Plymouth had to share the spoils on Good Friday with both sides primed for promotion in the near future.

Paul Cook's men were second best in the first half and fell behind just eleven minutes in when some sloppy marking allowed ex-Pompey loanee Jake Jervis to head in Gary Sawyer's cross at the far post.

Matty Kennedy may have added a second goal before the break having waltzed his way into the box but his shot found the side netting. Pompey's best chance of the half came when Luke McCormick blocked Gary Roberts' shot having spilled Kal Naismith's initial effort, but the Blues struggled to create anything before half-time.

The second half was a different story as Pompey dominated possession and fired some warning shots before the equaliser came. McCormick was to blame as he failed to hold Kyle Bennett's cross and Roberts was there to tap in.

Plymouth never looked interested in finding a winner and were content to hold out for a draw but Pompey might have won it had Conor Chaplin not headed Naismith's delivery over when he probably should have scored whilst Bennett's free kick deep into stoppage time didn't trouble McCormick.

In the end, a draw was a fair-ish result although Pompey may have won the game due to their second half performance. It turned out to be a good result for both sides as Luton somehow could only manage a draw at home to bottom club Leyton Orient whilst Stevenage were surprisingly beaten at home by Morecambe.

Those results mean that Argyle are all-but promoted but more importantly a win for Pompey at Notts County coupled with Luton failing to win at Mansfield will also see them confirmed as a League One club next season.

It could be a very special Easter Monday in Nottingham. Let's hope Portsmouth follow the script and finally puts an end to the misery the fans have suffered over the last nine years.

Pompey Player Ratings

David Forde: 6 - Would have expected more to do.

Gareth Evans: 5 - Struggled when up against good opposition.

Christian Burgess: 6 - Produced some nervy moments due to overplaying the ball.

Matt Clarke: 7 - Rock solid for the most part.

Enda Stevens: 7 - Another quality performance.

Michael Doyle: 6 - Knew he was in a battle.

Danny Rose: 6 - Did OK.

Carl Baker: 6 - Capable of some incisive passes.

Gary Roberts: 6 - Scored but did little else.

Kyle Bennett: 6 - Looked threatening when he had the chance.

Kal Naismith: 6 - Looks wasted as a striker.

Substitutes

Liam O'Brien

Drew Talbot

Jack Whatmough

Amine Linganzi

Jamal Lowe (Baker 78): N/A - Never saw much of the ball.

Conor Chaplin (Roberts 67): 5 - Not in the game and missed his big chance,

Nicke Kabamba