DIFFERENT CLASS

Svetoslav Todorov made his debut this afternoon in a changed Pompey side that saw Shaun Derry, Jamie Vincent and Kevin Harper return to the side. Shaun Cooper kept his place at right back and was a key member of a young Pompey side with Buxton, Pitt and Crouching joining veteran Derry and Waterman on the pitch.

The first half was dour with Pompey lacking any sort of spark and perhaps showing lethargicness due to the fact that they have hardly trained this week. Pompey's rot started from the back with Beasant's diabolical distribution meaning that Pompey never got into the passing mode. How fans can see the dated keeper as Pompey's saviour is beyond be - his constant backbiting off the pitch, poor handling and 'hoof' mentality is terrible for Pompey. Once again he caused mayem today but managed to keep his reputation due to a few routine saves - saves that any goalkeeper worth his salt should make in his sleep. Beasant was injured in the first half and it looked like Tardif might have to replace him - begging the question why on earth a transfer listed youngster would of had to kept goal in a crucial Division one game when a £1.8 million, national goalkeeper is nowhere to be seen. This is a question that really has to be answered.

Sheffield Wednesday, throughout the game looked a better team than Pompey and suffered due to their terrible finishing. Quick and pacy, Pompey's midfield were unable to impose themselves on the game and were second best to Wednesday's switched on midfield. The Blues also suffered from a lack of width with Pitt and Harper terribly off form. Due to the scrappy nature of the game, it is unlikely we saw the best of Todorov who looked off the pace of the game.

The second half saw Sheffield Wednesday impose themselves even more and substitute Barrett also didn't manage to cope with the Wednesday midfield. However Pompey did create some more chances with two Pitt crosses flashing agonisingly close the Crouch and Barrett. Pompey suddenly looked dangerous when Robert Prosinecki was introduced into the game. The Croat showed Pompey fans just what the team misses when he is not playing, he opened up the game, did the simple balls well and impressed with his impecable skill. His big chance came with a free kick, which he curled onto the post. There is no doubt that Pompey are ten times better when he is in the team.

He couldn't make the all important breakthrough though and Pompey sat out the last twenty minutes under immense pressure from Wednesday. Quite simply the performance wasn't quite good enough - it needs to improve against Preston.