What the papers say: Portsmouth

[Far Canal]

sportinglife.com

Reading 1 Portsmouth 0 npower Championship.

FT: 1-0 (HT: 1-0)

Noel Hunt 24

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/cc ... h&BID=3533

In-form Reading moved to within a point of the automatic promotion places with a 1-0 victory over crisis-club Portsmouth, who now find themselves rooted to the bottom of the npower Championship.

Noel Hunt's first-half header was enough to give the Royals a seventh consecutive win in a game of few chances, but the outlook appears bleak for Pompey.

The cash-strapped Hampshire side have now gone seven games without a win since entering administration for a second time in two years, during which time they have managed only two goals.

Reading boss Brian McDermott was forced into a single change from the side that beat Millwall at the weekend, with Shaun Cummings replacing Matthew Connolly after the defender suffered an ankle injury.

Michael Appleton, who reiterated his belief his side could escape relegation after a 3-1 defeat against Middlesbrough on Saturday, brought in Aaron Mokoena and fit-again Luke Varney for Marko Futacs and Tal Ben Haim. While Futacs was on the bench, Ben Haim - Pompey's highest earner on a reported £36,000 per week - did not travel.

Varney produced a lively cameo from the bench on Saturday and he showed what goal-shy Pompey have been missing for three months with some sublime skill to get to the byline early on, only for Kaspars Gorkss to head away his cross with Joel Ward lurking.

Reading began to dominate from then on, though, with Jobi McAnuff tormenting former Royal Greg Halford on the right wing.

When Halford fouled the former Crystal Palace man, Ian Harte's free-kick was headed narrowly over by Alex Pearce, and minutes later McAnuff was obstructed again - this time by Hayden Mullins - and Harte's centre was nodded wide by Gorkss.

Pompey produced some attractive football, but not surprisingly a side that now have only one goal from open play in their last seven matches lacked a cutting edge. The impressive Scott Allan embarked on a mazy run, but Gorkss was alert to snuff out the danger and prevent him playing in Ward.

Jason Roberts looked a threat whenever Reading attacked, and after 23 minutes he skinned Jason Pearce on the touchline before firing in a dangerous cross that Ricardo Rocha had to be alert to put behind for a corner.

From the resulting set-play the ball found its way back to veteran Harte, who played Roberts in down the right. The former Blackburn man beat Ward, and his superb centre was powerfully headed past Stephen Henderson by Hunt.

Six minutes before the interval McAnuff's dangerous centre found Hal Robson-Kanu unmarked at the back post, but he headed tamely at Henderson.

There was more purpose to Portsmouth's play after the interval - David Norris played in Ward down the left, but his cross was overhit and went behind for a goal kick.

Allan went on another good run after 61 minutes, beating two men after collecting Mullins' pass - only to see his shot blocked. The ball was then worked back to Varney, but his effort was also charged down.

The game petered out after that, Allan trying his luck with speculative efforts from 40 and 30 yards which failed to test Adam Federici, while at the other end McAnuff beat Ward with ease, but Hunt could only rifle his low cross into the side-netting.

Teams:

Reading
Federici, Cummings, Pearce, Gorkss, Harte, McAnuff (Cywka 90), Leigertwood, Karacan, Robson-Kanu (Le Fondre 69), Hunt, Roberts.

Subs Not Used: Andersen, Tabb, Church.

Goals: Hunt 24.

Portsmouth
Henderson, Mokoena, Rocha, Pearce, Halford, Ward, Mullins, Thorne, Norris (Kitson 79), Allan (Futacs 84), Varney.

Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Etuhu, Webster.

Att: 18, 399

Ref: Oliver Langford (W Midlands).

STAT ATTACK
Reading.........Portsmouth
2.....Shots On Target......0
6.....Shots Off Target.....4
10....Fouls (Conceded)....9
4..........Corners..........1
0........Yellow Cards.......0
0.........Red Cards.........0

[The Real Sandhurst Royal]

The game petered out after that

The game never started, neither goalkeeper had to made a save.

Total bore and dire performance gainst a very poor Pompey team.

[Arthur Pint]

The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/mar/06/reading-portsmouth-championship


Noel Hunt keeps Reading riding crest of a wave as Portsmouth sink


Reading 1 (Hunt 24) Portsmouth 0

Russell Kempson at the Madejski Stadium

In a dour contest that did neither side credit, the stark contrast between the haves and the have-nots of the Championship was no greater illustrated than here last night. Newly rich Reading sneaked past newly in administration Portsmouth, the difference in fortunes off the pitch replicated on it.

Reading continue to ride the crest of a wave, securing their seventh successive victory and eagerly anticipating the £25m takeover, due to be completed this month, by Anton Zingarevich, a young Russian tycoon. In third place, Reading lie one point behind West Ham United, who play Watford at Upton Park on Wednesday night.

Good times in Berkshire, perhaps, but desperate times in Hampshire. A record of one win in 10 matches, plus a 10-point deduction, has left Portsmouth at the foot of the table. Relegation – if, that is, they manage to finish the campaign – would appear inevitable. The Good Ship Pompey is sinking, fast.

Still, Reading roll on. The beaten play-off finalists of last season have won 15 times in 19 matches, not having drawn a game since October, and have kept six clean sheets in seven outings. Brian McDermott, their manager, has a newly signed contract in his pocket and, apparently, the only way is up.

"We have to work hard for every result in this league," McDermott said. "We couldn't get involved in all Portsmouth's problems, we just had to take care of ourselves, and we did. We relish every game, we work hard every day, and I don't think my players get the credit they deserve. But we stick together as a group.

"Since Anton Zingarevich came in, maybe there is a bit more expectation from the fans. But I like that, I encourage that. We want an exciting time at the end of this season, as we had at the end of last. We'll just keep ticking off the games and see where we end up."

As Portsmouth head towards League One oblivion, Michael Appleton, their manager, puts on a brave face … week in, week out. "We've talked about it with the players and we're still convinced we can survive," he said. "We've got 12 games left and we know how many we need to win to get us out of this mess."

Not if predator rivals keep picking off their best players. As Portsmouth have attempted to ease their wage bill, Birmingham City have nabbed Erik Huseklepp and Cardiff City took Liam Lawrence. Others may follow. "We've had a few polite enquiries from various clubs about various players," Appleton said. "But there's been no hard offers like we had for Erik and Liam."

Still, the Pompey fans remain a resolute bunch and were in good voice on a chilly evening, chanting throughout. Not that they had much to cheer, with Portsmouth playing second fiddle for long spells in a mundane affair. Summing up the all-round lethargy, just one effort hit the target all night – Reading's goal. Ian Harte released Jason Roberts and his precise cross was glanced in by Noel Hunt for his sixth goal of the season and third in five games.

[Stuka]

Sounds drab but onwards and upwards.