MATCH REPORT: Rochdale 1-3 Portsmouth

The Blues go marching on!

A 520 mile round trip to the Spotland Stadium was on the agenda for the 966 travelling Portsmouth supporters.

A win today (with a Peterborough slip up) could see Kenny Jacket’s Blue Army sit top of League 1.

However, the game didn’t start as many would have envisaged.

Just four minutes into the match, a cultured half volley from 30 yards, struck by Aaron Wilbraham stunned the travelling support.

A superb shot hit by the 6ft 3 target man, he wouldn’t have hit many more like that in his

20-year playing career.

1-0 4th minute.

This seemed to spur Portsmouth into life.

Almost a minute after the opener a well-worked chance dropped to Evans on the edge of the boxed. The ball bouncing up nicely and acrobatically met with an overhead kick but put a few yards wide of the Rochdale goal.

On the tenth minute mark, a hopeful ball into Dales penalty area was cleared but only to Thompson, whose effort cannoned off the bar for a goal kick from 20 yards.

Portsmouth gained an equaliser through Jamal Lowe, the winger slotting home from a few yards out after Pitman turned his man from the edge of the area and fired across goal.

1-1  21st minute.

The blues onslaught carried on through the remaining first half despite almost 50/50 possession between them and Dale.

Pitman playing in Lowe once more from the byline but his heavy touch took it into the path of Delaney who managed to clear.

Halftime –

Portsmouth going in the brighter of the two sides despite the early goal from Rochdale’s Wilbraham.

The Portsmouth front three causing all sorts of problems for the Dales back four.

Same again was the talk of the away fans sanding in the Sandy Lane End.

Rochdale started the brighter after the break, a neat move involving Hart ended with Henderson firing over from 25 yards.

After the opening 10 minutes of the second half, only Rochdale with any action to talk about. A few floated balls into the Blues Box but all dealt with effectively by the Keeper and the Defence.

Tom Naylor was having a particularly impressing afternoon, sweeping up in front of the back 4 during the Rochdale bombardment.

The pitch (shared with Rugby league side Rochdale Hornets) playing a bit part in the proceedings. Both sides opting to play the ball longer than keeping it to feet with the ball bobbling all over the place.

Portsmouth’s first shot in the second half came on the 70th minute, converted by Captain Bett Pitman!

His 29th goal for Portsmouth in 50 Games.

The ball worked well out to Brown and the deflected cross falls for Pitman who flicks it home past the outreached arms of the Dales keeper.

1-2 71st minute.

A substitute a piece saw, Zac Clough and Ben Thompson take the field for Dale and Pompey respectively.

Rochdale clearly going for the equaliser and Portsmouth happy to hold their lead going into the final 15 minutes of the game.

After a flurry of action from both sides, Portsmouth put the Dale to the sward.

A floated corner to the back post saw Clarke’s header deflected away, but the ball falls for him once more. A dropped shoulder and a nutmeg took Clarke inside the fallback and smashed home from 6 yards out.

The first goal of the season for Portsmouth 17/18 player of the year.

1-3 81st minute.

Portsmouth comfortably saw out the remaining nine minutes (plus added time) with the only chance falling to Ben close. Seeing the keeper off his line, Close tried an audacious lob from 40 yards, but the ball sailing several yards from the goal.

With the final whistle sounding, the unbeaten run continues to 56 days and 10 games.

Is promotion on the cards? We certainly hope so!

Portsmouth climb to the top of League One once again.

Rochdale 1 – 3 Portsmouth

In Summary – A comfortable victory despite going 1-0 down early. Rochdale never really looked like taking any points at home and the Portsmouth win only felt like a matter of time.

A game they would have drawn last season and a great response from the drab affair at Fratton Park last Saturday.

Let’s Av’ Him! – Sam Hart

The 22-year-old left back (on loan from Blackburn) posed a real threat to Portsmouth this afternoon. Causing more than a handful of problems and trying to exploit the forward runs of Lowe and Thompson. Started the early attack that ended up with a 30-yard volley from Wilbraham.

He’s all yours! – Jim (James) McNulty

Started off okay but the pass of the game soon caught up with the 33-year-old. No major mistakes but got turned too easily for Portsmouth equaliser and got caught ball watching for Pitman’s goal. Dropped deeper and deeper as the game went on.

Attendance: 3,796 (966 away).

Possession: 50/50

Total Shots: 15/21

Corners: 0/5

Yellow Cards: 0/1

Red Cards: 0/0

words Benedict Wallis, D3D4 Portsmouth correspondent