Manchester City 2-1 Portsmouth - Report

Pompey's poor start to the season continued yesterday with a 2-1 defeat at the City of Manchester Stadium.

We started the game with a defensive 5-4-1 line up with the view to hit City on the break with the likes of Laurent Robert and Lomana LuaLua.

The first half was a pretty poor affair on both sides with little in the way of chances beyond speculative, long-range efforts. Probably the only real chance of note came in the first minute as Cole attempted a spectacular overhead inside the box which Sander Westerveld had to be alert to and parry away.

Alain Perrin tactics seemed to be vindicated when we took the lead through John Viafara five minutes after half-time. A dangerous Laurent Robert free-kick from the left found John Viafara at the near post to head home the opening goal.

If we had been defending for our life before the goal went in, this was now the time to really shut up shop.

Unfortunately 15 minutes later a resurgent City hit back as Joey Barton's cross caused consternation for Westerveld and he could only parry it into the path of Reyna for the equaliser. This was Westerveld's third mistake in four games.

Four minutes later City took the lead with Trevor Sinclair's cross picking out Cole and allowing him to run his marker and fire into the bottom corner. The shot took a deflection off Andy O'Brien which beat the luckless Westerveld.

Pompey looked pretty toothless after that and City held on comfortably to secure the three points. Lets hope the international break will give Alain Perrin the chance to get the additional players in which will keep us safe from relegation this season.

wanc.co.uk's Pompey Man of the Match: Dejan Stefanovic