Portsmouth 2 Swindon 0 - Neil Allen's verdict - Crucial Fratton Park triumph as Blues ease to comfortable three points

Last season Pompey were unconquered at Fratton Park, boasting the best home record in League One.
Ronan Curtis celebrates after opening the scoring against Swindon. Picture: Jason Brown/ProSportsImagesRonan Curtis celebrates after opening the scoring against Swindon. Picture: Jason Brown/ProSportsImages
Ronan Curtis celebrates after opening the scoring against Swindon. Picture: Jason Brown/ProSportsImages

So it seems strange to be toasting only a second south-coast victory in the Blues’ six matches at home.

A 2-0 triumph over Swindon marked a rare positive outcome at a ground which has comfortably failed to be as effective this term.

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Still, it was an important result for Kenny Jackett’s men against a side they would have expected to overcome, irrespective of these ongoing home troubles.

The recalled Ronan Curtis and a penalty from substitute Ellis Harrison were the difference between the sides.

However, Pompey were largely comfortable throughout, while John Sheridan’s visitors barely threatened.

A win was thoroughly deserved and will provide the Blues’ goalscorers with much confidence after recent dips in form and time on the bench.

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There wasn’t the landslide perhaps anticipated after Curtis opened the scoring after just eight minutes, but Jackett’s troops completed the win with ease.

Indeed, there was no scoring comeback from Brett Pitman, the striker scorned. Not that he was given much opportunity.

Pompey’s performance was nothing to drool over, with it being particularly sloppy late on.

Nonetheless, victory moves them to fourth and still firmly involved in the promotion shake-up.

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In Pompey team news, Harrison was dropped from Jackett’s side for the Robins’ visit.

The striker, who hasn’t scored in League One for more than four months, was one of two changes to the team which staged a dramatic fightback in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Plymouth.

He made way for Ryan Williams, who was asked to operate around John Marquis in attack rather than occupy the right wing.

The second change was enforced, following Michael Jacobs’ hamstring problem in that Pilgrims game.

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His replacement was Ronan Curtis, promoted from the bench following his entrance as substitute which proved so pivotal in Saturday’s draw.

There was also the sight of Jordy Hiwula on the bench following four matches out of Kenny Jackett’s 18-man squad.

Meanwhile, former Pompey favourite Brett Pitman started for Swindon, following five goals for the Robins this season.

When the match kicked off, the Blues demonstrated some slick football to present Marcus Harness with a chance after three minutes.

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However, from a decent position centrally, his left-footed shot lacked power and keeper Mark Travers collected comfortably.

Pompey won their first corner on five minutes after Harness’ shot was blocked, but Charlie Daniels’ delivery from the right was punched clear by the keeper.

Then Curtis saw a fierce angled shot from the left beaten out by Travers at his near post as the pressure continued to be applied.

The Blues finally broke the deadlock on eight minutes following a Daniels free-kick from the left.

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His delivery into the box was touched on by John Marquis and there was Curtis at the far post to crash it home and make it 1-0.

On 20 minutes, Daniels’ right-wing corner was cleared as far as Andy Cannon who, outside the box, took a touch and rifled in an excellent right-footed shot.

It appeared goal-bound, but Travers tipped the attempt over the bar for another Blues corner.

From the resulting flag kick, again delivered by Daniels, Sean Raggett’s header flew wide of the target.

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The hosts were extremely comfortable and, on 33 minutes, Williams’ cross from the right was missed by Curtis, yet Daniels at the far post did connect, only for Travers to save.

At the other end, an encouraging attack from Swindon presented Payne with a chance, yet James Bolton’s block was timely, diverting it for a corner.

Pompey continued to threaten, though, and when Williams cleverly clipped the ball back to Curtis, the Irishman took a touch before his shot deflected for a corner.

Payne collected the first booking of the game on 45 minutes when he tripped Callum Johnson as he surged towards Swindon’s penalty area.

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Curtis took the free-kick, which was cleared to Marquis, who unleashed a fierce volley which flashed just wide from outside the box.

It was the last meaningful moment of the first half as Pompey went in at the break with a 1-0 lead.

There were no substitutions at half-time and not long after the restart Payne sent a 25-yarder whistling over the bar after Curtis sloppily gave away possession.

On 53 minutes, Curtis swung in a wonderful right-footed cross from the left to present Marquis with a far-post chance.

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However, he was put off by the ball skimming off the head of a defender positioned in front and he nodded it well wide.

Swindon’s Christopher Missilou then took advantage of sloppy play by Williams, picking up possession and firing a shot from distance which clipped the outside of the post with MacGillivray rooted.

There was a double Pompey substitution on 59 minutes, with Harness and Marquis replaced by George Byers and Harrison.

That prompted Williams being switched to the right flank, with Harrison up front and Byers playing off him.

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On 64 mins, Pompey won a penalty after Dominic Thompson brought down Williams as the Australian latched onto Byers’ pass into the box.

Harrison persuaded Curtis to have spot-kick duties - and promptly slotted it down the middle to make it 2-0.

Moments later, Williams had a great chance when picked out charging into the box from the right, but his feet got muddled and the opportunity faded.

On 67 minutes, Jackett made his third substitution, with Daniels replaced at left-back by Lee Brown.

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With Pompey heading towards victory, Williams was put through down the right to launch a counter attack but ran out of space inside the box before falling to the ground, with no foul given.

The Blues inexplicably became sloppy in the final 10 moments, with misplaced passes aplenty, as they finished in ragged form.

There were also concerns over Cannon, who appeared to collect an injury, forcing his substitution during time added on.

Still, it was a Fratton Park win for the Blues as they maintain promotion interest.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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