Fortress Fratton breached by Wigan as Portsmouth's season continues to stall

The Blues made it three league games without victory on a hugely deflating afternoon at Fratton Park.

It was woeful stuff from Kenny Jackett’s side as goals from Lee Evans and Tom James left them fourth bottom in the formative third-tier table.

Ellis Harrison reduced the arrears in the 89th minute to avoid his side being the only side in the division to score this season.

But it didn’t affect the game’s outcome as their 17-month unbeaten run at PO4 was punctured.

Jackett made two changes following last weekend’s draw at Rochdale as Cameron Pring and new boy Michael Jacobs came in for Andy Cannon and Lee Brown.

It was a bright start from the Blues with Jacobs influential as he found pockets and looked to create going forward.

That early play led to Ronan Curtis hitting a cross-shot off the post and then John Marquis heading wide moments later.

Pring then charged into the box in the 13th minute but saw his effort on goal deflected for a corner.

Pompey’s early promise tailed off as the half wore on, however, with the Latics coming into the game.

And they hit the home side with a sucker-punch six minutes before the break as Alex Perry’s shot was blocked and, with Craig MacGillivray committed to the initial dive, Lee Evans was quickest to the loose ball to fire into the goal.

Pompey were appealing for a red card five minutes after the restart as Marquis was hauled down when breaking on goal by Nathan Cameron, but the judged the foul to be worthy of a yellow.

The Blues were devastated by a second goal after 59 minutes, seconds after Ellis Harrison replaced Harness, as James belted in a thunderbolt of a free-kick from 30 yards.

That saw the Pompey ranks in disarray as the Latics assumed control with questions now being asked of the character in the Blues ranks.

A chance came as Jones picked up a backpass, but Curtis free-kick inside the six-yard box could only be hit into the mass of Wigan bodies charging from the goal line.

Then Raggett’s header came back off the post from a corner after Marquis’ effort was deflected over.

Pompey were pushing to reduce the arrears as Williams fired inches wide from 12 yards with 11 minutes left.

The flag was up as Marquis missed from two yards out with time running out, to just about sum up things for Pompey and their fans.

Harrison gave Pompey late hope with his eight-yard finish in the 89th minute, but the leveller didn’t arrive in five minutes of stoppage time.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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