In a very even first half two in-form teams have been unable to score against each other in the first 45 minutes.
Newcastle made a confident start to this game and were immediately attacking Portsmouth, who returned to Fratton Park for the first time since reaching the FA Cup Final.
On a sunny afternoon on the south coast it was certainly a carnival atmosphere and a fine day for good football. Newcastle had England Under-21 captain returning after suffering a bout of food poisoning last Saturday.
A Geremi free kick after just 5 minutes was well taken by goalkeeper James, in front of the watching England manager Fabio Capello.
The first 15 minutes was a good start by the Magpies who were passing the ball around well, but without ever being able to make a clear cut chance.
On 23 minutes Harper was quick off his line to cut off a fine through pass by Kranjcar, who was causing Newcastle some trouble on the left wing.
Then on 29 minutes Viduka was through on the right, with Martins in oceans of room in the center. But Mark’s cross come shot was between Martins and James and went through for a goal kick. Viduka should have picked out Martins, and he knew it. It was an excellent chance lost.
The Newcastle full backs were finding it difficult to come forward, because of the strength of Portsmouth wingers and Beye made his only run forward after 39 minutes. Geremi and Beye were fighting hard to contain Kranjcar, who was in good form.
Newcastle are still in this game with a chance of victory, but they will need to raise their game in the second half, and must try to get their full backs forward in support of the attack.
But in the first half there was really nothing between the two sides, who were both playing well.
The game is delicately balanced on a knife edge at the interval.
TEAMS:
Portsmouth: David James, Glen Johnson, Herman Hreidarsson, Sol Campbell (c), Sylvain Distin, Papa Bouba Diop, Sean Davis, Sulley Muntari, Niko Kranjcar, Nwanko Kanu, Jermain Defoe
Subs: Lauren, David Nugent, Richard Hughes, Pedro Mendes, Asmir Begovic
Newcastle United: Steve Harper, Habib Beye, Jose Enrique, Abdoulaye Faye, Steven Taylor, Nicky Butt, Geremi, Joey Barton, Oba Martins, Michael Owen (c), Mark Viduka
Subs: Fraser Forster, Damien Duff, Alan Smith, David Edgar, Andy Carroll
Referee: Phil Dowd
Attendance: 20,506
67 responses so far ↓
1 OzZyMagpiE // Apr 12, 2008 at 18:21
i say bring on ALAN SMITH! NOT…..
2 Steve_48 // Apr 12, 2008 at 18:22
Come on lads more of the same 2nd half, just need a little more down the flank activity and crosses for the likes of Duke and Mickey O
3 Andy1 // Apr 12, 2008 at 18:28
Pass back by Davis?
4 51times // Apr 12, 2008 at 18:31
Portsmouth are looking a bit more dangerous. Switch to 4-5-1 and try to kill the game at 60 minutes or so I say.
5 Steve_48 // Apr 12, 2008 at 18:32
Let off from Defoe
6 Obafan // Apr 12, 2008 at 18:32
Now we were lucky. Defenders were running to back deep. Come on guys!!!
7 Andy1 // Apr 12, 2008 at 18:32
Lucky there. That was a great chance for Defoe. I can’t believe he’s missed it the form he is on
8 Dubsea // Apr 12, 2008 at 18:33
Gotdamn. That shortarse Defoe has just missed a sitter.
9 obamagic // Apr 12, 2008 at 18:33
Enrique needs to stop hoofing the ball…. He needs to bomb down the flanks!!!!
10 Andy1 // Apr 12, 2008 at 18:34
Great play by Martins. But could have set up Owen
11 Steve_48 // Apr 12, 2008 at 18:35
Martins needs to read the game a little better, he had options in the box there
12 Obafan // Apr 12, 2008 at 18:36
Our deep passes are mostly too hard. Surprising shot from Oba, perhaps he should have better put it back to Owen.
13 Dubsea // Apr 12, 2008 at 18:37
Defoes run’s off the shoulder are a bit worrying.
14 Hadrian // Apr 12, 2008 at 18:37
thank god that shot got blocked, harper’s not got it easy with that sun .
15 ronaldeano // Apr 12, 2008 at 18:37
Eye mate, he had options, we need points, especialy since the filth got beat
16 obamagic // Apr 12, 2008 at 18:38
we need to score cuz portsmouth is starting to look really dangerous..
17 Hadrian // Apr 12, 2008 at 18:39
these near post corners for owen are a waste of time, its like 1 in 25 go’s in .
18 51times // Apr 12, 2008 at 18:39
We have the scum next week so we’ll make sure we finish above them then
19 Steve_48 // Apr 12, 2008 at 18:39
Good pressure from Taylor @ the back post
20 Steve_48 // Apr 12, 2008 at 18:40
Will be watchin’ the game against the scum on telly next week
21 Dubsea // Apr 12, 2008 at 18:41
Liking Harper in goal. Decent save.
22 Obafan // Apr 12, 2008 at 18:45
OUR FINAL BALL IS TOO BAD TODAY! One good one and we will score!
23 obamagic // Apr 12, 2008 at 18:46
I think we nid to bring some fresh legs on… Bring on Duff and Carroll
24 51times // Apr 12, 2008 at 18:47
Geremi - hit it straight away you fool. If Owen had got it he would have scored.
25 Obafan // Apr 12, 2008 at 18:47
Geremi’s free kciks have been very dangerous; just no luck for someon to just run agains the ball. His corners should be delivered to the back post not the near post.
26 51times // Apr 12, 2008 at 18:48
Oh my God how did he miss that?
27 obamagic // Apr 12, 2008 at 18:48
WTH WAS THT Shoot!!!! C’mon Geremi!!
28 Dubsea // Apr 12, 2008 at 18:49
owen shoulda nutted that
29 Andy1 // Apr 12, 2008 at 18:49
Sitter for Owen. What a save though.
30 Andy1 // Apr 12, 2008 at 18:50
Great shot by Geremi
31 Steve_48 // Apr 12, 2008 at 18:50
Great shot from Gez, better same from Calamity
32 Obafan // Apr 12, 2008 at 18:51
Damned Butt stop those long passes; you overkick them all the time.
What an effort from Geremi.
33 Obafan // Apr 12, 2008 at 18:54
Come on guys; we can win this one!!!
34 Obafan // Apr 12, 2008 at 18:57
Oh no I saw Smith on my screen; he is warming up
35 obamagic // Apr 12, 2008 at 18:59
I will piss my pants if Simthy score!!! lol
36 ObaFan2 // Apr 12, 2008 at 18:59
FGS Smith….. get a yellow card plz……..
37 Andy1 // Apr 12, 2008 at 19:00
Smith on for Viduka
38 Dubsea // Apr 12, 2008 at 19:02
calamity james was almost back there.
39 Andy1 // Apr 12, 2008 at 19:03
Oba just tackled Smith… fair enough.
40 Obafan // Apr 12, 2008 at 19:03
SMith makes always fauls on high balls.
41 Andy1 // Apr 12, 2008 at 19:07
Great play by Oba - so close. He was involved all the way through the move and he looks really composed on the ball lately. Plays simple passes and doesn’t concede position cheaply like he used to.
42 ObaFan2 // Apr 12, 2008 at 19:08
Smith just stands there……. he’s clueless
43 51times // Apr 12, 2008 at 19:10
0 - 0, and I’m quite happy really.
44 ObaFan2 // Apr 12, 2008 at 19:12
Bit dull but a hard game, happy with another point.
45 obamagic // Apr 12, 2008 at 19:12
Oba needs to know when to cross and when to shoot.
46 arnie // Apr 12, 2008 at 19:12
Funny isnt it. The so-called tactical genius big fat sam was obsessed with keeping clean sheets, but his only tactic seemed to be letting the opposition play and get lots of players into our own box. Along comes the so-called tactical inept kevin keegan. He tells his players to keep the ball, pass and move and attack. And suddenly its three clean sheets in four matches…
47 Obafan // Apr 12, 2008 at 19:13
Another clean sheet. Not disappointed with a point at Pompey.
We played good football, but our final pass was always a bad one.
48 Dubsea // Apr 12, 2008 at 19:13
well earnt point. progress continues. hope we can pinch tenth.
49 The black in the blacknwhite // Apr 12, 2008 at 19:13
ozzy you jinxed it!! As i said before the game il settle for the draw- portsmouth a top side- we remain unbeaten im happy!!!
and we were by far the better side- if owen had put the ball away-
Oba had chances- even geremi had chances
bring on the mackems
thats what 5 games unbeaten good for me
50 Russel // Apr 12, 2008 at 19:14
OWEN missed a golden chance.
51 Howie // Apr 12, 2008 at 19:14
good result arnies right.big sam would have been turned on with a game like that.
52 Jinal // Apr 12, 2008 at 19:14
Oba was very selfish today.
53 Hadrian // Apr 12, 2008 at 19:15
ill take that point , thank you very much !!
lot of good things in that match , lets not dwell on the negatives , cant wait till keegan brings in the the rest of the pieces he needs to finish the squad .
54 Toonlad // Apr 12, 2008 at 19:15
Felt there were a few good chances missed there. Ah well, a draw is a draw, and better than a loss!It was a lot more assertive than the last game against Portsmouth.
Right, bring on that lot from Wearside and now that we are in the mood we can finish them off!
55 ToonKing // Apr 12, 2008 at 19:16
feekin’ Pompey, how do you play against teams like this ?? all they cared about was defending and smothering the game…..crap, i’m still happy’ish with the draw and the clean sheet, can’t wait for next week.
56 dougnufc // Apr 12, 2008 at 19:17
Oh well, was quite dissapointed with Owen, he could have tapped it in to the left hand side..
Looking forward to next season
57 Howie // Apr 12, 2008 at 19:17
nice to see a lot of common sense being said on here. not many teams go to fratton and win. i think spurs and boro have only done that this season so id have to say very much a point gained. our defence looks very good apart from one faye error today
58 Spyro // Apr 12, 2008 at 19:18
good result against a strong and fairly pacey pompy side. Well earned point and great defensively to get yet another clean sheet. well done lads.
59 Spyro // Apr 12, 2008 at 19:20
Owen did miss a sitter but lets not forget he was the only player who foresaw a potential mistake and got into space. A draw was a fair result anyway, a display of two good defences
60 Russel // Apr 12, 2008 at 19:24
I won’t be disappointed with OWEN,he is still a great player in the world.
61 Charlie Bucket // Apr 12, 2008 at 19:25
Jose is starting to look really solid in the left back position. He needs to work on his passing when he gets further up the field as he gave the ball away on a number of occasions by punting it into the crowd.
But no, I like this guy and I would be disappointed to see him go.
62 shirts // Apr 12, 2008 at 19:29
I think this shows limitations of the 4-3-3 against a better team.
We still have a lot of work to do, but an away point is good.
63 Howie // Apr 12, 2008 at 19:31
shirts getting a point away from home against the team in 6th and probably gonna win the fa cup hardly is a negative
64 Stevey // Apr 12, 2008 at 19:32
To be fair to Owen, it looks like he had the awareness to know where he was and fire it at the goal as hard as he could. It was just unlucky that it glanced off of James’ forehead. I mean, what are the odds of that?
65 hanzemre // Apr 12, 2008 at 19:44
I am happy for the guys we did enough to earn a draw down there. Just few chances as our final balls were so bad with Viduka & Owen almost lost in the game. We’re pretty much composed in the midfield area so no much to complaint to this 4-3-3 formation. Well done to all guys except 1 (sorry not to you Alan Smith!)
66 Rob Kirton // Apr 12, 2008 at 20:05
@arnie : Couldn’t agree more. Its strange how few goals a team concedes if they try keeping the ball at the right end of the pitch.
People forget that for two years running Keegan actually gave us the 2nd tightest defence in the league (just behind Man U)
However there are far too many people who can’t let the facts get in the way of a good argument.
67 Ross // Apr 12, 2008 at 20:07
decent result today. alot of positives. faye looked excellent again, he’s really good in the air. enrique also had a good game at the back. some of his long balls were terrible though.
the passing seemed a little off in general today though.
geremi put alot of decent balls in but there were a good few corners where he couldnt even get the ball past the first man.
pompey havent been beaten at home since the turn of the year however, and a point is better than none.
bring on the filth next week
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