Pompey In Braintree Bore Draw

Last updated : 16 July 2013 By Jim Bonner

Pompey played out a goalless draw at Braintree in what sounded like an absolutely dire game of football.

Once again, I listened to this pre-season game on the radio and it seems like that was the correct decision judging by the commentary. The Portsmouth fans who travelled to Essex and now have a three hour journey home have my sympathy.

Whittingham selected a strong looking team for the match. Smith, Moutaouakil, Devera, Webster, Butler, Wallace, Ertl, East, Holmes, Agyemang and Harris started the match with Sonny Bradley missing out with a slight groin injury.

Cressing Road saw plenty of balls fly out of the stadium due to terrible shooting during the game and the first half was practically a non-event, though Ashley Harris went close right before the break.

Tom Craddock came on for the lacklustre Agyemang at the start of the second half and just after the hour more substitutions were made as the younger players arrived on the scene.

However, they could not liven up a drab game and apart from one piece of Romain Padovani skill aside, Pompey fans had little to cheer. In fact, it seemed like Whittingham's men were outplayed by their Conference counterparts and had Phil Smith to thank for a couple of good saves in the second half.

There was a sense of relief when the final whistle blew and hopefully this Saturday's friendly at Fratton Park will be a much more entertaining affair.

It should be a great day whatever happens. A lot of people have put a lot of effort into organising activities before the game on Saturday and there will also be the unveiling of the new away kit.

Of course, the best thing about this match is that you can pay what you like to watch it! It's a great opportunity to bring young kids to a game and to introduce people who have never been to Fratton Park before to the wonderful world of supporting Pompey!

Let's just hope they're not turned off by another bore draw.