Insipid Portsmouth fall to Blackpool defeat which asks serious questions of promotion aspirations

Toothless Pompey were dealt a massive promotion blow as they fell to a 1-0 loss to Blackpool.
Pompey fell to another woeful loss todayPompey fell to another woeful loss today
Pompey fell to another woeful loss today

Jerry Yates’ 82nd-minute goal made the difference at Fratton Park as the Blues fell seven points off the automatic promotion spot.

And Kenny Jackett’s side had only themselves to blame in a display which lacked the attacking quality and urgency to open up the organised visitors.

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It continued a desperate week after the loss at Bristol Rovers on Tuesday, in a period which raises serious questions of Pompey’s aspirations of going up.

There was little in the way of spark in the final third throughout which led to the home side getting exactly what the deserved

Pompey were boosted pre-match by the present of Jackett at the game - just 48 hours after undergoing surgery.

There were two changes from the side who lost miserably to Bristol Rovers, with Marcus Harness and Rasmus Nicolaisen in for George Byers and James Bolton. Jack Whatmough was on the bench.

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Charlie Daniels produced an excellent block after four minutes to deny Jerry Yates a certain goal after Ellis Simms easily got his shot off in front of Sean Raggett.

Rasmus Nicolaisen flashed a header wide from a corner after 10 minutes and was somehow denied the opener 19 minutes later, as Harness’ shot was blocked from Ronan Curtis’ free-kick and the defender’s follow-up was somehow blocked on the line by James Husband.

The sides were cancelling each other out as the half wore on, with Pompey looking for a spark in the final third.

The second half continued in the manner the first ended with nothing in the way of clearcut chances and quality in the final third.

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The change Pompey fans were waiting for arrived with 13 minutes left as Jordy Hiwula was introduced along with Ellis Harrison for Ryan Williams and Marquis.

But it was Pool who nicked the key goal with eight minutes left, with more weak defending behind Yates’ goal. First the otherwise excellent Nicolaisen didn’t deal with the striker and then Raggett allowed him the space to fire past the exposed MacGillivray.

And that proved the key moment which led to Pompey finishing up empty handed.

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