Manchester
City v Portsmouth 2-0
April 30th 2005 46,454
With
a European place a possibility there was a buzz and air of expectancy around the
City of Manchester Stadium as City welcomed Portsmouth and a large contingent
of supporters from the South coast. The City team are on a great run of form under
the stewardship of Stuart Pearce and this continued today. In the first half as
the ball zapped its way from sky blue shirt to sky blue shirt in a manner reminiscent
of the Brazilians at times I had to remember that maybe we've perhaps not got
the players with the individual flair and skill of Vava, Garrincha and Pele and
co but the first half team display was as good as we've seen from City this season
and with luck we could have been five up at half time. In contrast the second
half was a bit of an anticlimax with City saving a bit for next Saturday against
Villa. For the most part James was untroubled and kept yet another clean sheet
- helped by the dominance of Dunne and Distin at the heart of the defence. It
looks as though City are likely to achieve under Stu Pearce their highest position
in the Premiership. He MUST now be given the managers job fulltime.
Yet
another cross from the right wing and more problems for Pompey as the ball is
cleared for a corner
City
were unchanged yet again with both Mills and Thatcher being on the bench.
From
the first minute City went on the attack and set the pace of the action right
from the start.
From
the resultant corner Dunne rose above the keeper but his header bounced down towards
the waiting Distin who headed it back over the prostrate Ashdown
Despite
the efforts of Taylor on the line the ball looped over him to give City their
first goal after just 4 minutes.
Shaun
Wright-Phillips was beginning to get some of his old form back and this promising
run was ended by a bad foul by O'Neill who got booked by referee Marriner.
Richard
Dunne, who is quickly becoming City's star player was in action at both ends of
the ground protecting keeper James at one end and giving the opposing keeper plenty
to think about at the other.
After
16 minutes Wright-Phillips was brought down again and Robbie Fowler curled the
resultant free-kick around the wall.....
......
to beat Ashdown at the left hand post to give City a two goal lead ... a lead
they well deserved.
The
rejuvenated Fowler got a rapturous reception from the City supporters.
Portsmouth
coach Joe Jordan is no doubt asking the third official to get some tips from Stu
Pearce on egging the players on!
A
Portsmouth defender blocks another City shot.
City
almost got a third when a miscued header by Stefanovic went just over the goal
More
danger for the Portsmouth goal as SWP attacks.
As
Matthew Taylor stole some yards at a throw-in Stu Pearce gave him some some stick
from 'inches away'. Portsmouth manager Alain Perrin (who?) and Joe Jordan appeal
to the third official to handcuff him to the bench!
Yes
... Its that man again Richard Dunne dominating the penalty area and not allowing
the Portsmouth strikers any chances.
Has
Joey Barton being taking secret lessons from Nat Lofthouse I wonder. His enthusiasm
was 'rewarded' by a free-kick when he barged Ashdown into the net as the visiting
goalkeeper caught the ball
Nedum
Onuoha was having easily his best attacking game at right back and often used
his strength and speed to good effect.
Yet
another City corner putting pressure on the visitors goal
There
goes Nedum again sweeping down the right leaving a trail of bodies!
Ashdown,
far the busier of the two keepers, is in action again.
Kamara
and O'Neill try to get a City player booked for a foul
Is
that a left jab to Distin's face or just a trick of the light!
Portsmouth
had a bit more of the play in the second half and came near to scoring after 50
minutes . Kamara broke down the left and his cross reached Rodic whose shot was
saved on the line by Thatcher who had come on for the injured Jordan at the interval.
It
was interesting to see a tactic I have long advocated ... keeping SWP upfield
at opposing corners. It means the opposition have to keep two men back to mark
and James has a target should he catch the corner kick
After
75 minutes clattered one of the opposition at the edge of the area
City's
protests were in vain but the resultant shot by O'Neill was well saved by James
who kept his third consecutive clean sheet and City extended their unbeaten run
to 6 games. Another cracking team performance especially in the first half. Two
more displays like this and the UEFA Cup beckons. Roll on Villa and Middlesbrough!
Team
James
6: Onuoha 7, Dunne 8, Distin 8, Jordan 6, (Thatcher 6): Wright-Phillips 7, Reyna
7, Barton 7, Sibierski 6, Musampa 6: Fowler 7 (Croft 6)
