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On a cold, dry, blustery day, Clarets took to the field unchanged for the third consecutive game, their visitors in a hideous gold strip, giving a debut to Stone and winning the toss, therefore electing for the Clarets to change ends for the first half.
Pompey dominated throughout the half, their speed and class quite obvious and the speed at which Clarets were closed down in midfield a cause for concern until a reshuffle that saw Weller replace Ian Moore in a tactical rethink half way through the half that enabled Clarets to try and come to terms with the best side seen at the Turf this season.
Pompey's bright opening saw their precise passing game carve Clarets open and the writing was on the wall after only ten minutes, but Beresford was equal to Todorov's well struck shot. It was quarter of an hour before Clarets showed up front and then Hislop had the easy task of dealing with Taylor's looping header.
The score line was broken after twenty minutes, with Quashie's fierce shot from the right edge of the area beating Beresford after a fine three man move started by Stone cut Clarets midfield open, sending 1,800 or so Pompeyites wild with delight. Clarets needed to fight in order to lift their game and compete against their opposition and Stan clearly didn't feel the existing troops were up to it, so withdrew Ian Moore sending on Paul Weller after only twenty five minutes in order to stop a rampant Pompey, a switch that was to benefit the Clarets.
Beresford was out smartly to smother Todorov's shot as the one way traffic slowed, before Diabate became the first booking for a crude tackle on Briscoe. With half time approaching, Blake was fouled twenty yards out and Briscoe's shot was curled into the midriff of Shaka Hislop, before Briscoe's busy little period ended when he was cautioned for a trip on his marker Merson, who had run the show for the visitors.
In between, Branch was out smartly to block Merson's shot as Pompey tried to chime a second goal before the break, but it was not to be and Clarets could be thankful only to trail by the one as the teams went up the tunnel, such was the dominance of the visitors on the opening period.
The second half was to prove better for the Clarets, much better in fact, and despite the score line, Clarets were the better side until the last ten minutes when Pompey tried to run amok in a series of late counter attacks. In the very first minute, Clarets should have equalised, but Taylor could not force the ball past Hislop in a scramble following good wing play from Little.
Merson should have increased the lead, but failed to connect properly with a cross and Beresford was presented with a scuffed shot instead of picking the ball out. With Pompey subdued in the early stages, Clarets enjoyed much better possession, particularly down their right where Blake, Little and West all made good progress.
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Ritchie was booked for going through the back of Blake, before Maylett replaced Branch as Clarets tried to get going once again, prompted by Blake who should have put Clarets back into it but failed to connect, missing an open goal from a yard out after a delightful chip from Davis had put Maylett through into the area. An injured and limping Cox was replaced by Papa... with twenty minutes left before Briscoe's cross was stupidly handled by Stone, the penalty disputed by a cautioned Merson.
West's penalty was awful, dead straight and deflecting off the top of the bar and high in to the Pompey fans. Still though Clarets tried to get back into it and Blake then had a shot cleared off the line, when for once, Hislop was beaten. If you hadn't thought it up to that point, then you knew it was one of those days when you concluded Clarets were to get nothing from the game. Harper replaced Todorov with a quarter of an hour to go before an injury to Matthew Taylor caused Mr Clattenburg to stop the game just as Papa was breaking into the area, causing frustration all round.
Taylor headed over a good Maylett cross when it seemed easier to score, before Pompey went in search of further goals as Clarets pushed forwards. Beresford saved well from the impressive Pericard, before Pompey punished Clarets defensive carefree attitude in a break way third goal. Merson's early release to Stone saw a well timed run end with a great cross to the centre of the goal enabling Harper to finish easily.
It was almost four as Quashie saw his shot saved by Beresford, then West turned Ritchie's shot over the bar with Marlon still on the ground. Ritchie then had the final move in the game and could not believe his eyes when his header came back off the inside of the post with Marlon well beaten. So that was that, the good run has come to an end and so long as Clarets can go on for another twelve games it will not be a bad thing. Let's crack on shall we.
Att:- 15,788
Star Gazer
Graham Branch. Struggled to get into the game going forwards and caught out of position for Portsmouth's first. He found it hard going defensively against the pace and guile of Stone to who he seemed to pay far too much respect.
Glass Half Empty
Tactically Clarets got it wrong today, needing a reshuffle half way through the first half to counter the domination of Pompey. Dead ball moves were very predictable and corners in particular were weak efforts lifted into the breeze, allowing easy catches for Hislop on a day where in the first half, Clarets gave their visitors far too much respect. Oh and if Davis, Blake or Papa are on the pitch, please could one of them take the penalties in future please?
Star Geezer
Steve Davis. Never gave up and worked tirelessly throughout in a game where the qualities of Merson, Quashie and Diabate were quite evident. Able to support the attack and made good use of the ball, his was typical of a captain’s performance.
Glass Half Full
Despite conceding two goals, a lot of good work was seen in the second half where Clarets rallied well and with a little bit of luck could have got back into the game at key stages in the match. Whilst Clarets may not have the best players in the division technically speaking, the games against Leicester, Ipswich and now Portsmouth have seen Clarets physically as fit as any other side and that when they believe in themselves as they did in the second half, they can match the top sides.