Pompey rocked by late blow at Birmingham
Joel Ward, who went close for Pompey in the first half, battles for the ball with Birmingham City's Jonathan Spector (right)
Battling Pompey were left empty-handed at Birmingham as Nathan Redmond’s 86th-minute volley condemned them to a 1-0 defeat.
The spirited Blues looked set to earn a well-deserved draw from their trip to the Midlands before the pacey wide man’s stunning strike past the helpless Stephen Henderson.
The win sees Birmingham move up to third in the table, while Pompey remain stuck in 17th following their ninth away defeat of the season.
Birmingham started brightly and had Pompey on the back foot when Marlon King peeled off his marker at the back post to set up Adam Rooney.
However, Henderson did well to deny the striker the early breakthrough and dealt comfortably with Keith Fahey’s long-range drive two minutes later.
Pompey replied with a Hayden Mullins shot that failed to test Boaz Myhill, while Marko Futacs could have done better when Kelvin Etuhu set him up in the box after a terrific surging run down the right wing.
When Jonathan Spector robbed Joel Ward of possession on 15 minutes before shooting well wide, it marked a period of possession where the home side threatened the visitors’ goal.
Rooney failed to make the most of a poor Tal Ben Haim backpass, while Fahey again tried his luck from the edge of the box.
However, Pompey continued to battle away and ended the first half unlucky not to be in front.
Etuhu shot wide after a neat lay-off from Liam Lawrence, Myhill had to be alert to deny Ward after he was set up by Etuhu, while Ward was again unlucky after Erik Huseklepp set him up with a chance to give the Blues the lead.
In the second half, Jason Pearce did well under pressure to deny the home side the breakthrough on 49 minutes, before he went up the other end to head Lawrence’s well-flighted free-kick in the arms of Myhill.
Birmingham responded by bringing on Redmond for the ineffective king, and the move worked as he injected pace into the home side’s attack.
He put pressure on Ben Haim when he attempted a backpass to Henderson, but Rooney was denied as the keeper spread himself well.
However there was little Henderson could do as Redmond fired Brum into the lead with a sweet drive on 86 minutes.
Pompey brought on Benjani for Futacs and Kitson for Ethuhu as they attempted to rescue something from the game.
But it failed to spark a sterling comeback from the visitors, with Mutch and Rooney both going close to extending the home side’s advantage in the dying minutes.
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Comments
There are 63 comments to this article
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ozinaus
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 04:38 PMNice one Chris can just imagine the idiot with his fingers in his ears crying " its not true its not true they can't be better at us in everything".
russian chris
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 04:10 PMHes Lord Duckhunter in disguise! Remember him,all he could do was talk about attendances! History= Portsmouth overall average attendance since 1898- 26,247 Scumton- 19,892. End of. and if you include since you started- a few years before us, it goes down lower. End of.
pirate pete
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 12:33 PMBanter I am led to believe is supposed to be witty and humouress. The stain just comes across as a saddo.
SouthernDandy
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 12:07 PMHand on heart and on my kids lives, I never ever cheered Rupert Lowe at any stage! . Southseasteve... banter, innit mush.
MTH
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 12:02 PMHand on heart I have NEVER cheered Storrieteller , but I did cheer Harry Judas...PUP
southseasteve
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 11:17 AMSouthernDandy -what are you doing? Just ask yourself that for a minute.
MTH
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 11:13 AMI tend to agree, but I am sure your lot cheered Rupert Lowe at one time or another we all get blinded by success at times.......PUP
SouthernDandy
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 11:05 AMI don't blame the fans entirely, although the past cheering of the likes of Peter Storrie was a bit pathetic. I actually hope PFC fans can set up a new club, run properly without any legacy debt and get rid of all the hangers-on. Football would probably be a lot more fun for PFC fans instead of seeing all the garbage on the news everyday.
MTH
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 10:31 AMSoutherndinlo: and why is that the fans fault? all we want is a club to support.....You are very lucky that a benefactor came in and bought you ....so be content with your lot and go back to the Echo site and try to put all the effort you put into this site by going to st Fairy's and try not to boo your team who are second yes second in the league and you still boo ....PUP
SouthernDandy
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 10:23 AMPUP Indeed, pay up pompey. Doesn't it disgust you that most of you work hard and have to pay all your taxes & vat on time? Yet a club that is paying (sometimes) millionaire footballers, thinks that its ok not to pay its tax bill... mostly because it got away with it last time.
MTH
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 10:17 AMsoutherndinlo: Your rants show just how inferior you feel to us.......PUP
mensi
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 10:09 AM@ 51 Stain ..very good, now trot along you sad case !!
SouthernDandy
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 09:59 AMAverage League attendance: SFC 25,642 PFC 14,545 Does make me laugh that so many Pompey fans really do believe this nonsense that you are so much more passionate and louder than Saints and other teams support. It's a complete myth. Having a handful of fans banging drums & ringing bells non-stop for 90 minutes is more a sign of them having psychological problems instead of being some sort of úber fan!
ozinaus
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 09:48 AMAlso appys and glorious I think if u read back all my post over the last few weeks u will find I am very positive and am constantly giving out rallying calls to support, as i am sure others will testify to.My only gripe has been towards negativity i.e tiger.
ozinaus
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 09:43 AMSo again I ask tiger what have u done?
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