Shutout

Last updated : 17 March 2007 By Jim Bonner
0-0 isn't a scoreline you associate with Pompey very often but that was the result in a game that summed up the current form of both Portsmouth and Reading as neither side really deserved to win over the 90 minutes.

We got off to a shaky start and I was glad that we managed to get through the first minute without conceding as Reading won a corner near enough straight from our kick-off. Reading actually won loads of corners in the first half but they were all dealt with pretty easily.

After another shaky moment when Leroy Lita poked wide from all of two yards, our players started to get a foothold in the game and enjoyed some possession. We didn't create much though as the returning Dejan blasted a free kick straight at the well and Gary O'Neil shot narrowly over the bar. The teams went in at half-time with Reading probably just shading the overall play and having the better chances in the opening stages.

We were much better in the second half. The defence were largely untroubled, the new central midfield duo of Hughes and Mvuemba were assured and dictated the play but it's just up front where we fell flat. Benjani did plenty of running and Kanu held the ball up well enough but I can't remember either goalkeeper having too much to do in truth but Hahnemann must have been worried when Hughes had a Mendes-esque effort from 30 yards hit the crossbar.

It's a shame that despite all of our breakaways none of our players seemed like they wanted to have a crack and yet again we've been guilty of trying to walk the ball into the net with neat build up play rather than just smash it forwards towards the goal.

There also seemed to be a lack of positivity from Redknapp as he only made one sub in stoppage time whilst Steve Coppell threw on three attacking players to try and change the game. We dealt with the new threat very well though mainly because Campbell and Primus were excellent once again.

Other positives to take from the game were the full debut of Arnold Mvuemba who looked decent in his first Premiership start and David James kept his first clean sheet in ages to equal David Seaman's record of most Premiership clean sheets.

A draw at Reading is a decent result taken at face value especially when most Pompey fans were expecting a defeat today but if our hopes of qualifying for Europe were hanging by a thread before this game then they're now resting on a molecule of hope.

Now we just have to wait yet another week before we can be put out of our misery!

Pompey Player Ratings

David James: 7 - Took Reading's threatening crosses comfortably.

Glen Johnson: 6 - Good going forward but gave the ball away too much.

Sol Campbell: 8 - Won almost everything.

Linvoy Primus: 8 - Strong, no-nonsense defending.

Dejan Stefanovic: 5 - Shaky return to the first team.

Gary O'Neil: 7 - Another energetic performance but needs to find his shooting boots.

Richard Hughes: 8 - Very good display and was so unlucky not to score.

Arnold Mvuemba: 7 - Impressive first Premiership start. Didn't do much wrong and looked lively.

Niko Kranjcar: 6 - Had a free kick that went wide but didn't have a real impact.

Benjani: 7 - Done plenty of running and made space for others. Had a decent shot saved by Hahnemann.

Kanu: 6 - Good hold-up play but reluctant to shoot.

Subs

Jamie Ashdown

Djimi Traore

Matthew Taylor: N/A - Stoppage time sub. Matt's been officially "dropped" because of recent poor performances according to Harry.

Andy Cole

Lomana LuaLua