Portsmouth 3-0 Rochdale: Neil Allen's verdict as Blues reach uncharted territory in this season's League One title race

Steve Seddon celebrates scoring against Rochdale after coming on as a 54th-minute substitute.  Picture: Robin JonesSteve Seddon celebrates scoring against Rochdale after coming on as a 54th-minute substitute.  Picture: Robin Jones
Steve Seddon celebrates scoring against Rochdale after coming on as a 54th-minute substitute. Picture: Robin Jones | 2020 Robin Jones
The scoreline reflects victory at a canter, the reality tells a very different story.

Nonetheless, Pompey have entered uncharted territory this season, rising to third in League One.

A 3-0 triumph over Rochdale and Kenny Jackett’s side head into March a mere two points behind leaders Rotherham.

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Undoubtedly, an encouraging position at this stage of the campaign and unpinned by another triumphant Fratton Park display.

A 10th successive triumph on home turf and still unbeaten in the league on the south coast this term, the Fratton Fortress continues to be remarkable.

Yet Rochdale provided a number of scares along the way, while two goals in the final 12 minutes added gloss to an outcome threatened at times.

Leading through Ryan Williams’ goal on the stroke of half-time after an awful 45 minutes from both sides, both teams livened during the second period.

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In fact, with the Blues’ advantage still slender, Ian Henderson struck the corner of the bar and post with a wonderful effort, while goalkeeper Alex Bass’ superb save thwarted Matty Lund’s header.

Then Pompey surged clear, with substitute Steve Seddon’s sublime strike and Christian Burgess’ header securing a 3-0 victory.

The Blues were by far the more dominant side after the break and could have even added to their tally late on, which would have been harsh on the visitors.

As it was, the result lifts Jackett’s men to their highest position of the season so far as they prepare to turn attention to Arsenal in the FA Cup.

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Jackett was boosted by the availability of Ellis Harrison for Rochdale’s visit, with the striker returning following a dead leg.

However, he had to make do with a place among the substitutes, unable to dislodge the in-form John Marquis, who has netted nine goals during a prolific 2020 so far.

Instead, Harrison replaced Oli Hawkins among the substitutes, with Brett Pitman retaining his place on a bench strong in attacking options.

There were, however, two changes to the starting XI, with James Bolton coming in for Ross McCrorie at right-back.

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The other change saw Cameron McGeehan replace Ben Close alongside Tom Naylor in the holding-midfield roles.

Interestingly, Lee Brown kept his left-back place ahead of Seddon, after the Birmingham loanee was rested against MK Dons.

Although, there was no place in the match-day 18 for Jack Whatmough, Gareth Evans or Brandon Haunstrup.

In the opening few minutes, Ronan Curtis’ corner from the left lacked height, yet still caused problems, with Rochdale keeper Robert Sanchez keeping it out with his legs.

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At the other end, Lund drove a right-footed shot comfortably wide of the far post, without remotely troubling Bass.

On 15 minutes, Henderson had a glorious opportunity for the visitors, yet his left-footed lob lacked sufficient height and looped up into Bass’ hands.

Then Aaron Morley’s shot from outside the box was collected by Bass as it threatened to drift over his head.

The game was proving a dull affair with neither side demonstrating any sort of fluency in the south-coast wind.

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Certainly Pompey’s midfield were struggling to dictate matters, while the visitors were barely retaining possession in their opponent’s half.

Approaching half-time, Rhys Norrington-Davies put in a cross from the left which Bass was alerted to, cutting it out at his near post.

The Blues staged their most meaningful attack of the half on 40 minutes, with Andy Cannon cutting inside and firing off a right-footed shot just over the bar.

Norrington-Davies then received the first booking of the game following a foul on Williams, although injuring himself in the process, necessitating his substitution.

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The deadlock was broken on the stroke of half-time to finally lift the crowd.

Curtis’ cross from the left was met with a Christian Burgess header saved by Sanchez, but Williams pounced to lash the ball into the roof of the net as it fell to him with the goal gaping.

During two minutes of time added on, Cannon lashed a goal-bound shot which had many of the Fratton faithful cheering, only to be blocked and deflected wide.

There were no substitutions at the break, although the rain did make an entrance, falling heavily at the start of the second half.

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On 51 minutes, Curtis’ first-time cross from the left couldn’t be taken by the Dale keeper, falling to Williams at the far post.

However, the goalscorer was unable to make a proper connection with his attempted shot and he nudged it to the grateful Sanchez.

Pompey had a scare on 53 minutes when Henderson produced a delightful angled shot form 25-yards out which struck the corner of the bar and post and bounced clear.

Jackett made a double substitution a minute later, with Cannon and Brown replaced by Close and Seddon.

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On the hour mark, sloppy play from Rochdale gifted the ball to Marquis outside the box, but his left-footed drive was straight at the goalkeeper.

The Blues were searching for that second goal and Seddon’s first-time cross from the left was met with a looping McGeehan header which the keeper collected well.

Then, a wonderful left-footed cross from the right from Williams was met with a difficult diving header from Curtis at the far post which flew narrowly wide.

At the other end, Bass superbly tipped over Lund’s header following a cross from the left.

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Pompey did secure their second goal on 78 minutes, through a lovely strike from Seddon.

Bolton’s cross came in from the right and the ball was laid into the path of the left-back, who crashed a first-time left-footed shot from outside the box into the far corner of the net.

It was a sublime strike and finally the hosts had breathing space entering the final 12 minutes of the contest.

Pompey made their third and final substitution on 84 minutes, with Marquis making way for Harrison.

Seconds later it was 3-0, Seddon’s free-kick from the right headed home by Burgess.

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