Portsmouth 2 Argyle 1: Match report

Two Portsmouth goals in a rollercoaster second half were enough to subject Argyle to an agonising 2-1 defeat, though it was perhaps it was a goalless opening 45 minutes that played the biggest part in the Greens losing this Dockyard Derby.

The damage from Pompey was done between the 46th and 77th minutes, with goals from Jed Wallace and Ryan Taylor. An excellent Olly Lee strike less than a minute after the second goal ensured an extremely nervy ending at Fratton Park, but a second yellow card for Curtis Nelson ensured the Greens fell just short of taking something out of a game they could so easily have taken control of in the first half.

Charlton Athletic loanee Zak Ansah was handed his first professional start by manager John Sheridan, after creating some eye-catching moments as a substitute against Burton Albion and Cheltenham Town. The youngster replaced Lewis Alessandra, but it was Jason Banton, however, who started the game closest to Reuben, with Ansah playing furthest forward of a midfield three.

The Greens cruised to a 3-0 victory that afternoon in November, but one factor that would have given Pompey belief of faring better second time round is the loan acquisition of Matt Tubbs from Bournemouth - Sky Bet League 2’s leading marksman with 19 goals. Nyron Nosworthy stepped in for the injured Ben Chorley in the hosts’ only change from their 2-2 draw with Carlisle United on Good Friday.

Much like this fixture that took place on the final day of last season – a sensational 3-3 draw – the game immediately felt much more, shall we say, picturesque than your usual League 2 fixture, all of which have a different aspect of romance to them. A warm and sunny day to play football on a decent playing surface in front of 16,581 fans (1,780 representing the Green Army). The only thing either team could ask for was a victory: in Argyle’s case to solidify their place in the play-offs and, in Portsmouth’s case, to excorcise any demons they may still be haunted by after their drubbing at Home Park in front of the Sky cameras.

No reason for either team to not enjoy the day, then, and it was Portsmouth who started brightest, with Matt Tubbs firing in an early warning sign from a tight angle that had be tipped behind by Luke McCormick.

Ansah then looked to respond, shrugging off a challenge from midfield and putting a defender on their backside with a drop of the shoulder, but he could not beat Paul Jones with a 20-yard effort. The Pilgrims were keen to continue pressuring their slow-starting opponents, and Bobby Reid unlocked their defences with a lofted ball to namesake Reuben after 18 minutes. Reid cut back and squared the ball to Dominic Blizzard, but Jones was out quickly to snuff out the midfielder’s attempt at his feet.

Andy Awford’s side continuously gave the ball away in comfortable possession, but Argyle were not careful enough themselves with the ball to punish them. Set-piece delivery was inconsistent, and glimpses of a killer pass were spotted very quickly by the likes of Blizzard and Bobby, but rarely found their mark.

A more subdued atmosphere came over all four corners of Fratton Park, and the opening 45 minutes were perfectly summed up by the half’s final attempt at goal. Nigel Atangana was once again dispossessed in the middle of the park – this time by Ansah – leaving Argyle with a man over on the counter attack. Ansah advanced and played in Banton, who had time and space to pick his spot inside the area, but scuffed his effort past the far post.