Portsmouth 0-0 Newcastle United - Report

The Portsmouth team for yesterdays game was:

Ashdown
Priske - O'Brien - Stefanovic
Griffin - Diao - Vignal
O'Neil - Vukic - Taylor
Silva

Subs: Westerveld, Karadas, Hughes, Skopelitis, Songo'o

and the Newcastle United team was:

Given
Carr - Taylor - Boumsong - Babayaro
Bowyer - Parker - Clark - N'Zogbia
Shearer - Ameobi

Subs: Harper, Chopra, Brittain, Elliott, Faye

Referee: Steve Bennett

It always seems to happen to us!

In a game of excitement that was not reflected by the 0-0 scoreline, it took an outstanding display from Newcastle keeper Shay Given to deny us a first home win of the season.

We totally dominated the game of football and should have finished with us winning by two or three clear goals. To prove this point, our goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown did not have one save of note to make all game.

Newcastle struggled without the injured Michael Owen and a Charles N'Zogbia cross-shot was as close as they came all game.

Given came to his side's rescue after the break with two wonderful saves from Matthew Taylor. Being right behind the goal, I could truly appreciate how good these saves were.

Our enterprising display, if not the result, was justification for chairman Milan Mandaric's programme notes in which he gave Perrin his full support.

I was surprised to see us line up with an unorthodox 3-3-3-1 formation, but this inspired move paid off for Perrin. We looked solid in defence and creative in attack. All we were missing was a Yakubu upfront to finish these chances off.

Deploying three banks of three with Uruguayan Silva up front in the absence of illness victim Lomana LuaLua, made sure we gave Newcastle a torrid time. Gary O'Neil, Zvonomir Vukic and Matthew Taylor all caused the Newcastle defence problems throughout the game. If only we had spent some money in the summer on a decent striker, we would be winning games like this!

Near the end, we all thought referee Steve Bennett should have had given us a penalty. Instead he booked Vukic for diving under Given's challenge (and after seeing this later on TV, I think the referee got it right)

In the end both teams had to settle for a point.

Hopefully our luck in front of goal will change in our next match away at Middlesbrough.

wanc.co.uk's Pompey Man of the Match: Gary O'Neil