Portsmouth 0-1 Boro

Well this was not what I expected a loss to Boro. How bad were Pompey! The worst I have seen them play since promotion.

The pub on the other hand was very nice, with old Pompey shirts up on the wall and Pompey pictures dotted hear and there, it got busy but a good atmosphere.

The game was a bad one for Pompey no goals scored at home for bloody ages and we have played pretty badly at that time to, not good enough Pompey!

Pompey started briskly but failed to create a clear opening and paid for it on 20 minutes when Gary O'Neil's volleyed cross was tapped in by Tuncay. Portsmouth hustled and harried after the interval and almost levelled but Kanu hit the post from five yards out.

Boro won this fare and square but we were awful bad show boys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pompeygary’s MOTM Woodgate Solid at the back

Pompeygary’s Worst Pompey again!!!!!

Portsmouth: James, Lauren, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson (Taylor 46), Utaka (Nugent 62), Diop, Hughes (Muntari 72), Kranjcar, Mwaruwari, Kanu.
Subs Not Used: Begovic, Traore.

Booked: Taylor.

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Young, Woodgate, Huth, Pogatetz, O'Neil (Johnson 86), Shawky, Arca, Downing, Sanli, Lee (Hutchinson 75).
Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Riggott, Grounds.

Booked: O'Neil, Woodgate, Young, Arca.

Goals: Sanli 20.

Att: 20,089

Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).

This weeks pub

The pub for the game today picked my Mother is The Rose In June mmmmm beer!

Portsmouth 0-0 Arsenal

Well this was a good day all round, a good pub and a good game to boot.

As it was the day after Boxing Day, the pub had mince pies on the bar for everyone I did not have one I’ve had enough to eat!!!! But the beers and chaser went down well nice.

The game was very enjoyable even if it was another nil nil draw at home, will we ever get another goal at home again? In a game of few clear chances, Arsenal came closest to scoring in the first half through Tomas Rosicky but his dipping shot was saved by David James. Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia had a quieter time of it, though he got down quickly to save Niko Kranjcar's shot. Benjani burst clear for Pompey but his touch to get past Almunia was too heavy, while William Gallas and Rosicky went desperately close for Arsenal. I’m happy with a draw in this game against a team that have not failed to score in the league since the last time they come to Fratton Park!!

Pompeygary’s MOTM Hughes solid

Pompeygary’s Worst Most of Arsenal for falling over a lot your to good for that.

Portsmouth: James, Lauren, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Mwaruwari (Utaka 81), Diop, Hughes, Muntari, Kranjcar (Taylor 76), Kanu.
Subs Not Used: Begovic, Traore, Nugent.

Booked: Lauren, Diop.

Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Eboue (Diaby 65), Flamini, Fabregas, Hleb (Bendtner 82), Rosicky, Adebayor.
Subs Not Used: Lehmann, Diarra, Song Billong.

Booked: Eboue.

Att: 20,556

Ref: Steve Bennett (Kent).

Pub

Drinks for Boxing Day is at The Meon Vally

Liverpool 4-1 Portsmouth

Rubbish

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Hyypia, Carragher, Riise, Benayoun (Babel 64), Gerrard, Mascherano, Kewell (Aurelio 76), Torres (Lucas 86), Kuyt.
Subs Not Used: Itandje, Voronin.

Booked: Arbeloa.

Goals: Benayoun 13, Distin 16 og, Torres 67, 85.

Portsmouth: James, Johnson (Lauren 46), Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Utaka (Kanu 46), Diop, Pedro Mendes, Muntari (Taylor 73), Kranjcar, Mwaruwari.
Subs Not Used: Begovic, Nugent.

Booked: Diop, Hreidarsson.

Goals: Mwaruwari 57.

Att: 43,071

Ref: Mike Riley (Yorkshire).

Pompey 0-1 Spurs

This one will be short as we did not win, not that we didn’t deserve to win we didn’t. I can take a defeat and this one I could Spurs were first to the ball and wanted it more. I said before the game we need to stop drawing at home and a defeat may just be what we need in a strange way.

The pub was one of the best I have been to in a while, a good down to earth pub, I have passed this pub so many times over the years and I think it is a little gem.

The game was following the same pattern to all the last few home games a bit dull and a bit of a stalemate, all the teams that come to the park seem to make it hard for us at home. We have failed to find the net in four of our last five league matches at Fratton Park. Most of the first half was ok but neither team making a goal. Spurs looked the most potent after the break as Lennon began to cause havoc down the right flank. The game became stretched as both teams opened up and went for the win, but clear chances were at a premium, particularly for the home side. But when Lennon clipped his pin-point cross to the back post finding Berbatov, the striker steered home on 81 minutes to put the game beyond the home side. Dam well thats the end of our eleven unbeaten league run but what a run, so it’s only Liverpool away this Saturday so PLAY UP POMPEY!!!!!!!

Pompeygary’s MOTM Berbatov What a player.

Pompeygary’s Worst Pompey bad show chaps.

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Pamarot (Hreidarsson 74), Utaka, Diop, Pedro Mendes (Davis 46), Muntari (Nugent 65), Kranjcar, Mwaruwari.
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Taylor.

Booked: Pedro Mendes, Kranjcar, Distin.

Tottenham: Robinson, Chimbonda, Zokora, Kaboul, Lee, Lennon (Tainio 86), Jenas, Boateng (O'Hara 78), Malbranque, Berbatov, Bent (Defoe 74).
Subs Not Used: Cerny, Stalteri.

Booked: Malbranque, Berbatov.

Goal: Berbatov 81.

Att: 20,520

Ref: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

In pub

Having a drink in the pub lovely! just of to the match 2-1 to Pompey me thinks.

Pub

The Battle of Minden the place for drinks this week Play Up Pompey!!!!!!

Villa 1-3 Pompey

Pompey win away again will this ever end? I hope not. I watched this on the T.V. and we looked good the two goals Muntari were well lovley Play Up Pompey!!!

Aston Villa: Carson, Mellberg, Knight, Laursen, Bouma (Berger 54), Gardner (Harewood 70), Reo-Coker, Barry, Young, Carew, Agbonlahor.
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Davies, Maloney.

Booked: Carew, Berger.

Goals: Barry 72 pen.

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Pamarot, Utaka (Kanu 64), Diop, Pedro Mendes, Muntari, Kranjcar (Taylor 88), Mwaruwari.
Subs Not Used: Begovic, Hreidarsson, Nugent.

Booked: Pedro Mendes, James, Pamarot, Kranjcar.

Goals: Gardner 10 og, Muntari 40, 61.

Att: 35,790.

Ref: Mike Riley (Yorkshire).

Christmas

Well i have been busy getting ready this festive season, so i will
announce the pub tomorow. And one thing the car stereo is fixed so i
will be able to have the radio on after the match.

When Pompeygary Met John

I had the pleasure of meeting John Westwood on Sunday as we shared a dressing room at the Guild Hall in Portsmouth for the Salvation Army annual Carol Service, I was helping Santa ;-) and John was on stage ringing his bell and delivering a Christmas message, and what a thoroughly nice bloke he is top man, we spent most of the time talking about Pompey what else. Play Up Pompey!!!!!!!

Pompey 0-0 Everton

Off to Southsea I went on Saturday to the pub, this is a pub I have not been in since I went to The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Kings in the early nineties and pop in for a pint before the show. Well it has changed a bit since then more modern, and the old landlord back then did not take the Christmas decorations down till Pompey went out of the F.A. CUP. The pub was ok but a bit student like.

So to the game I am very frustrated with another draw at Fratton, we played better than Everton but since the Reading game we have not put the ball in the back of the net in the league! But another clean sheet and an easy game for James, he may need a book to read next time in goal.

Portsmouth had the better of the chances, with Sulley Muntari twice going close with free-kicks. Portsmouth almost broke the deadlock, courtesy of those two Muntari free-kicks, but the first was deflected inches wide by Tim Howard's foot and another turned over the top by the Everton keeper.

Portsmouth continued to dominate after the break, with Mendes shooting just over the top and Kranjcar coming closest of all when he narrowly failed to turn in Glen Johnson's cross. Portsmouth almost snatched it with five minutes to go when Howard palmed out Diop's shot, but Joleon Lescott's tackle halted substitute Kanu as he attempted to pounce on the loose ball.

So I hope we go for a 442 formation for the next home game and play 451 away as that works for us. So it’s the Villa next early on Saturday Play Up Pompey!!!!!!!

Pompeygary’s MOTM Kranjcar pure class

Pompeygary’s Worst Neville Hooooooooof

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Pamarot, Utaka (Kanu 57), Diop, Pedro Mendes, Muntari, Kranjcar, Mwaruwari.
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Hreidarsson, Nugent, Taylor.

Booked: Muntari.

Everton: Howard, Neville, Yobo, Lescott, Nuno Valente, Arteta, Osman, Carsley, Cahill, Pienaar (Johnson 53), Yakubu (Anichebe 67).
Subs Not Used: Wessels, Hibbert, Jagielka.

Booked: Pienaar, Cahill.

Att: 20,102

Ref: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire).