Fratton Park Saturday 20th August 2022
Portsmouth 3
Ogilvie (32), Pigott (pen,82), Dale (90 + 2)
Bristol Rovers 1
Collins (61)
Referee: Gavin Ward Attendance: 18,842
There’s a Naval Dockyard at Portsmouth, but for Bristol Rovers the place, and Fratton Park in particular, is a Graveyard as Rovers haven’t beaten Portsmouth at Fratton Park since 1975.
Joe Barton made three changes to his starting lineup, but it was the formation that had everyone scratching their head about prior to kick, and they were really none the wiser once the game began.
It looked like 3-3-3-1 from this observer’s place in the press box, with a move to a back four when the home side attacked, Paul Coutts usually being the man to funnel back. I might be entirely wrong, though, as when asked a direct question about his formation in his post match press conference, the manager suggested that the reporter figure it out for himself!
As far as the game was concerned, it was nip and tuck for the opening 20 minutes and then it became quite lively following a late tackle by Glenn Whelan on Louis Thompson on the halfway line right in front of the dugouts.
Yes, Whelan was late, but the feeling was that Thompson caught his studs in the turf as he fell, causing serious damage, confirmed afterwards a double leg break. With the home crowd, and most of the Pompey staff baying for blood, or at least a red card, Whelan was booked, Thompson was stretchered off and the game resumed after a lengthy stoppage.
The incident appeared to unnerve Rovers and they conceded the opener just after the half hour mark when a corner taken by Michael Jacobs found the unmarked Connor Ogilvie who headed into the top corner of the net with James Belshaw well beaten.
That was the score at the break and Rovers claimed an equaliser on 61 minutes after former Portsmouth striker John Marquis caught Sean Raggett in possession and slipped the ball inside to Aaron Collins who took full advantage and gleefully slotted home his fourth league goal of the season.
The goal lifted Rovers and a much more even contest appeared to be heading for a draw until two controversial penalty incidents inside the last 10 minutes swung the game in Pompey’s favour. On 82 minutes Belshaw parried away a shot on goal and Harry Anderson completed the clearance.
Trouble is, Joe Pigott decided to go to ground, claiming he was fouled by the Rovers player. Referee Mr Ward agreed, gave a penalty and Pigott sent Belshaw the wrong way with his spot kick.
Four minutes later there was a clear push, by Joe Rafferty, in Collins’ back as he burst into the area and he was sent sprawling. A clear penalty, or at least you would think so. Mr Ward, though, decided there had been no contact (quite how he reached that decision is beyond me!) and Rovers’ hopes of salvaging a point were scuppered by a poor decision by the match official.
Two minutes into stoppage time Owen Dale made it 3-1 when he headed home from Dane Scarlett’s cross and the wait for a win against Pompey on their own ground continues.
Portsmouth: Griffiths, Rafferty, Morrison, Raggett, Ogilvie, Dale, Pack, Thompson (Lowery, 24), Jacobs (Pigott, 77), Bishop (Hackett, 77), Curtis (Scarlett, 64).
Substitutes: Oluwayemi, Swanson, Robertson.
Bristol Rovers: Belshaw, Hoole, Connolly, Gibson (Kilgour, 76), Rossiter (Loft, 74), Whelan (Anderson, 46), Coutts, Finley, Evans, Marquis (Saunders, 81), Collins.
Substitutes: Jaakkola, Gordon, Lawrence.
ALSO
There were no former Rovers players in the Portsmouth side
Yellow cards were issued to Glenn Whelan, Lewis Gibson, Paul Coutts, Sam Finley and Jordan Rossiter
Paul Coutts was skipper
Four substitutes used
Fourteen added minutes
(Photos courtesy of JMP)
Keith Brookman