Portsmouth 2 v 1 Wigan Athletic (FA Cup 3rd Round)
16th January 2007
Wigan Athletic knew they were in for a battle during this game and Portsmouth's team line up confirmed their fears. Whilst Pompey fielded a virtual full strength team the Blues were once again chopped and changed.
Chris Kirkland was rested and his place in goal was taken by Mike Pollitt, with John Filan taking his place on the bench. There was no Arjan De Zeeuw, but his place was taken by debutant Andreas Granqvist. Lee McCulloch was back in the team following his three match suspension and partnered Emile Heskey up front as David Cotterill played in the right wing berth with Gary Teale on the bench.
Once again, the Blues were toothless, often chasing shadows and just how Pompey didn't go in at the break in full control of the game was more by luck than judgement. Mike Pollitt produced three fine saves, denying a rampant Portsmouth front line that was shooting at will, whilst loan signing Granqvist did very well to clear off the line as well. The Blues' only effort on goal fell to Heskey whose shot was easily saved by former England goalkeeper David James.
Harry Redknapp replaced Benjani Mwaruwari with Nwanko Kanu at half time, obviously hoping to spruce up his front line which had struggled to convert their chances in the first period. This plan seemed to have backfired for the first eighteen minutes of the second half as the game became a tense affair with neither team prepared to take any chances, but then Andy Cole burst into life to stun Latics by putting Portsmouth into the lead.
Two minutes later Latics' other loanee, Andreas Haestad, replaced Denny Landzaat as Paul Jewell tried to beef up his almost non existent midfield. Then four minutes after that he opted to replace the hapless Kevin Kilbane with Gary Teale in an attempt to inject a bit of pace into the team. And with only a goalkeeper and two defenders left on the bench, it really was Latics' last chance of taking something from the game. But it was the hosts who almost took a two goal lead but for another excellent save from Pollitt Sean Davis. Andreas Johansson had a half hearted attempt at goal and then Redknapp introduced former Latic David Thompson into the proceedings as he came on for Niko Kranjcar in the 79th minute.
Jewell's response was to make his third change of the game, tiring debutant Granqvist being replaced by Matt Jackson on the 80 minute mark.
Just three minutes later Gary Teale broke down the right wing and he passed a sublime ball into the path of Lee McCulloch who half volleyed beautifully into the roof of the net to stun the Pompey faithful. However, with the last kick off the match (when else?) Latics conceded a goal to finish the game off with Kanu slamming the ball past Pollitt.
The only saving grace for followers of both teams in the sparse crowd is that at least they don't have to see it all again at the JJB Stadium in the middle of next week.
PORTSMOUTH, David James, Linvoy Primus, Matt Taylor, Sol Campbell, Glen Johnson, Niko Kranjcar, (David Thompson 79), Gary O'Neill, Pedro Mendes, Sean Davis, Andy Cole, Benjani Mwaruwari, (Nwankwo Kanu 46). Subs not used, Jamie Ashdown, Andy O'Brien, Andy Griffin.
Goal scorers, Andy Cole 64 mins, Nwankwo Kanu 90 mins
WIGAN ATHLETIC, Mike Pollitt, Emmerson Boyce, Andreas Granqvist, (Matt Jackson 80), Fitz Hall, Leighton Baines, David Cotterill, Denny Landzaat, (Kristofer Haestad 66), Andreas Johansson, Kevin Kilbane, (Gary Teale 70), Lee McCulloch, Emile Heskey. Subs not used, John Filan, David Wright.
Goal scorers, Lee McCulloch 83 mins
Booked, Fitz Hall 82 mins
Referee, Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)
Attendance, 14,336
Wigan Athletic knew they were in for a battle during this game and Portsmouth's team line up confirmed their fears. Whilst Pompey fielded a virtual full strength team the Blues were once again chopped and changed.
Chris Kirkland was rested and his place in goal was taken by Mike Pollitt, with John Filan taking his place on the bench. There was no Arjan De Zeeuw, but his place was taken by debutant Andreas Granqvist. Lee McCulloch was back in the team following his three match suspension and partnered Emile Heskey up front as David Cotterill played in the right wing berth with Gary Teale on the bench.
Once again, the Blues were toothless, often chasing shadows and just how Pompey didn't go in at the break in full control of the game was more by luck than judgement. Mike Pollitt produced three fine saves, denying a rampant Portsmouth front line that was shooting at will, whilst loan signing Granqvist did very well to clear off the line as well. The Blues' only effort on goal fell to Heskey whose shot was easily saved by former England goalkeeper David James.
Harry Redknapp replaced Benjani Mwaruwari with Nwanko Kanu at half time, obviously hoping to spruce up his front line which had struggled to convert their chances in the first period. This plan seemed to have backfired for the first eighteen minutes of the second half as the game became a tense affair with neither team prepared to take any chances, but then Andy Cole burst into life to stun Latics by putting Portsmouth into the lead.
Two minutes later Latics' other loanee, Andreas Haestad, replaced Denny Landzaat as Paul Jewell tried to beef up his almost non existent midfield. Then four minutes after that he opted to replace the hapless Kevin Kilbane with Gary Teale in an attempt to inject a bit of pace into the team. And with only a goalkeeper and two defenders left on the bench, it really was Latics' last chance of taking something from the game. But it was the hosts who almost took a two goal lead but for another excellent save from Pollitt Sean Davis. Andreas Johansson had a half hearted attempt at goal and then Redknapp introduced former Latic David Thompson into the proceedings as he came on for Niko Kranjcar in the 79th minute.
Jewell's response was to make his third change of the game, tiring debutant Granqvist being replaced by Matt Jackson on the 80 minute mark.
Just three minutes later Gary Teale broke down the right wing and he passed a sublime ball into the path of Lee McCulloch who half volleyed beautifully into the roof of the net to stun the Pompey faithful. However, with the last kick off the match (when else?) Latics conceded a goal to finish the game off with Kanu slamming the ball past Pollitt.
The only saving grace for followers of both teams in the sparse crowd is that at least they don't have to see it all again at the JJB Stadium in the middle of next week.
PORTSMOUTH, David James, Linvoy Primus, Matt Taylor, Sol Campbell, Glen Johnson, Niko Kranjcar, (David Thompson 79), Gary O'Neill, Pedro Mendes, Sean Davis, Andy Cole, Benjani Mwaruwari, (Nwankwo Kanu 46). Subs not used, Jamie Ashdown, Andy O'Brien, Andy Griffin.
Goal scorers, Andy Cole 64 mins, Nwankwo Kanu 90 mins
WIGAN ATHLETIC, Mike Pollitt, Emmerson Boyce, Andreas Granqvist, (Matt Jackson 80), Fitz Hall, Leighton Baines, David Cotterill, Denny Landzaat, (Kristofer Haestad 66), Andreas Johansson, Kevin Kilbane, (Gary Teale 70), Lee McCulloch, Emile Heskey. Subs not used, John Filan, David Wright.
Goal scorers, Lee McCulloch 83 mins
Booked, Fitz Hall 82 mins
Referee, Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)
Attendance, 14,336
Labels: Portsmouth vrs Wigan (FA Cup)
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