Rescuing Portsmouth: The Richie Barker Regime

[pfeifere1]

Quote: Originally Posted by pickingupcrumbs

Don't go to Sunderland!!! Take the Pompeys to the top flight once more!

Don't worry. The Sunderland one was just something I'm doing on the side. This is where my main focus is and I'm not leaving Fratton Park. That I promise you!

Thanks for the follow.

[pfeifere1]

14. December 2013
Portsmouth vs. Hartlepool
Fratton Park

Portsmouth 0-1 Hartlepool

48' Luke James (Jack Compton) - HAR


Luke James sneaks in behind the Pompey defense for the lone goal of the match.


Portsmouth continue to struggle in League 2 action with a defeat to a strong Hartlepool side. With the win, Hartlepool jump up to 3rd place on 39 points, just 8 points behind Portsmouth who have a game in hand. The game saw nothing much in terms of chances in the first half, but it didn't take long after the halftime break for Hartlepool to find the back of the net. In the 48th minute, Luke James was able to slip through the sleeping defense of Portsmouth and one touch home a great ball from Jack Compton. It wasn't until this moment that Portsmouth were able to mount any meaningful attacks, but even then they were not able to test the Hartlepool keeper. In the end, the 1-0 defeat was only Portsmouth's 3rd loss on their campaign, but there is still a long road ahead before they can start to take the foot off the gas pedal.

Up Next: League 2 Match @ Accrington Stanley (5-6-10 21pts, 19th)



14.12.2013

Accrington 2-2 Plymouth Argyle
Bristol Rovers 1-2 Torquay United
Cheltenham Town 1-0 Burton Albion
Dagenham 1-1 S****horpe United
Exeter City 1-2 Rochdale
Fleetwood Town 0-1 Oxford United
Morecambe 1-1 Chesterfield
Northampton 0-1 Bury
Portsmouth 0-1 Hartlepool
Southend United 3-2 Newport County
Wycombe 1-1 Mansfield Town
York City 0-0 AFC Wimbledon

[pfeifere1]

21. December 2013
Accrington vs. Portsmouth
Crown Ground

Accrington 2-1 Portsmouth

37' James Beattie (Luke Clark) - ACC
45' David Connolly - POR
65' James Beattie - ACC


Ian Dunbavin makes a huge save in the 84th minute to preserve the win.

For the third straight League 2 match, Portsmouth have failed to come away with any points. The league leaders have begun to collapse as the January transfer window nears. This could be the best timing for these missteps. Manager Richie Barker may look to bring in some new faces to help get Pompey across the finish line. However, in this match against Accrington Stanley, James Beattie took over. The player/manager would score not once, but twice to lead Accrington to a 2-1 win over Portsmouth. Pompey were only able to strike once against one of League 2's most porous defenses. The lone goal of the match came from captain David Connolly in the 45th minute as he striped the defense and smashed home a side-footed half volley passed Accrington's Ian Dunbavin. In the end Beattie was too much for Portsmouth, as the 35 year old may have to reconsider retirement at season's end.

Up Next: League 2 Match vs. Newport County (6-5-11 23 pts, 18th)


21.12.2013

Accrington 2-1 Portsmouth
Bristol Rovers 2-1 Plymouth Argyle
Exeter City 2-1 Morecambe
Fleetwood Town 1-3 Burton Albion
Hartlepool 0-1 Rochdale
Newport County 2-2 Bury
Northampton 3-0 Dagenham
Oxford United 3-2 Mansfield Town
Southend United 1-1 Chesterfield
Torquay United 2-1 AFC Wimbledon
Wycombe 0-2 S****horpe United
York City 1-1 Cheltenham Town

[pfeifere1]

24. December 2013
Portsmouth vs. Newport County
Fratton Park

Portsmouth 0-2 Newport County

31' Conor Washington - NEW
41' Aaron O'Connor (pen) - NEW


Michael Flynn joins Aaron O'Connor in celebration of Newport County's second goal.

It has been pure disaster for Portsmouth as they have been brought back down to the rest of the pack in League 2. Tonight's match pinned lowly Newport County against league leaders Portsmouth and one could have argued the standings were in reverse. Newport County made their strikes count against Portsmouth en route to an easy 2-0 victory this evening. The goal scoring opened in the 31st minute from Conor Washington's finish from a poor goal kick from Pompey keeper Trevor Carson. Newport then capitalized on a penalty kick from Aaron O'Connor in the 41st minute to solidify their advantage. Nothing more came from Portsmouth from this point forward. Shoulders have begun to sag, players have showed less fight, and Portsmouth are in trouble. They must stop this slide soon.

Up Next: League 2 Match vs. Cheltenham Town (10-6-6 36 pts, 9th)


24.12.2013

AFC Wimbledon 2-0 Southend United
Burton Albion 2-1 York City
Bury 2-1 Bristol Rovers
Cheltenham Town 2-0 Morecambe
Chesterfield 1-1 Northampton
Dagenham 0-2 Accrington
Mansfield Town 2-2 Hartlepool
Oxford United 1-0 Torquay United
Plymouth Argyle 3-1 Wycombe
Portsmouth 0-2 Newport County
Rochdale 2-0 Fleetwood Town
S****horpe United 4-0 Exeter City

[pfeifere1]

28. December 2013
Cheltenham Town vs. Portsmouth
The Abbey Business Stadium


Cheltenham Town 1-1 Portsmouth

8' David Nobile - CHL
26' David Connolly (Ricky Holmes) - POR


David Connolly breaks through the Cheltenham defense to level the score.

All looked to be the same as has been for Portsmouth when they conceded an early strike from Cheltenham Town tonight. In just the 8th minute of play, David Nobile found himself latching on to a deflected corner that took Cheltenham Town ahead 1-0. Thankfully, for the traveling Pompey supporters, it didn't take long for Portsmouth to equalize. David Connolly was able to sneak through the central defenders and slam home a near post shot that Cheltenham Town keeper Scott Brown had no chance in stopping. This 26th minute strike would provide the last goal scoring of the day as both teams exchanged half-chances the rest of the way, resulting in nothing. Portsmouth have finally grabbed a league point for the first time in a long while.

Up Next: League 2 Match vs. Chesterfield (12-6-5 42 pts, 6th)


28.12.13

Accrington 1-1 S****horpe United
Bristol Rovers 1-1 Mansfield Town
Cheltenham Town 1-1 Portsmouth
Exeter City 2-0 Burton Albion
Fleetwood Town 1-2 AFC Wimbledon
Hartlepool 2-2 Oxford United
Morecambe 2-3 Dagenham
Northampton 1-2 Plymouth Argyle
Southend United 1-0 Bury
Torquay United 1-1 Newport County
Wycombe 1-2 Rochdale
York City 1-2 Chesterfield

[pfeifere1]

as of 30.12.2013

Pos	Name	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	PTS
1	Portsmouth	23	15	3	5	40	20	20	48
2	Southend United	24	15	3	6	34	24	10	48
3	S****horpe United	23	13	4	6	42	18	24	43
4	Plymouth Argyle	24	13	4	7	43	27	16	43
5	Northampton	24	13	4	7	33	26	7	43
6	Chesterfield	23	12	6	5	37	16	21	42
7	Hartlepool	24	11	8	5	36	24	12	41
8	Bristol Rovers	24	11	7	6	31	23	8	40
9	Cheltenham Town	23	10	7	6	33	26	7	37
10	Oxford United	24	10	7	7	30	28	2	37
11	Bury	24	9	8	7	27	26	1	35
12	Burton Albion	24	10	4	10	32	36	-4	34
13	Rochdale	24	8	9	7	25	21	4	33
14	Torquay United	24	8	9	7	28	30	-2	33
15	Exeter City	24	9	6	9	25	30	-5	33
16	Accrington	24	7	7	10	29	37	-8	28
17	Newport County	24	7	6	11	29	38	-9	27
18	York City	24	7	5	12	26	34	-8	26
19	Dagenham	24	6	7	11	25	31	-6	25
20	Wycombe	24	4	7	13	25	42	-17	19
21	Mansfield Town	24	3	9	12	24	38	-14	18
22	AFC Wimbledon	24	3	9	12	19	34	-15	18
23	Morecambe	24	3	7	14	18	38	-20	16
24	Fleetwood Town	24	4	4	16	21	45	-24	16

League 2 Mid-Season Report

We reach the halfway mark of the season and Portsmouth are brought back down to the pack. Nobody really expected them to keep up their rampant pace, but then again nobody saw this occurring so abruptly.

The biggest disappointment have been Fleetwood Town so far. A team that was just 9 points from the last playoff spot last season finds itself facing possible relegation to non-league football.

Plymouth Argyle boast two of the league's top three goalscorers. Don't expect to keep a clean sheet against them!

League leaders Portsmouth only have one player in the league's top 20 goalscorers (David Connolly with 9 goals ranks 6th).

Portsmouth and Chesterfield goalkeepers are tied atop the league leaders for clean sheets with 9. These two match-up on New Year's Eve in their next match.

It looks to be a tight finish, as many teams are within a couple games of the playoff spots. Look for a wild final day of the league this year.

[pfeifere1]

31. December 2013
Portsmouth vs. Chesterfield
Fratton Park

Portsmouth 1-0 Chesterfield

61' David Connolly (Danny East) - POR


David Connolly acknowledges the crowd's support at Fratton Park after scoring his game-winning goal.

With the weather forecast showing a heavy rain all night long, there were surely Pompey supporters that had their doubts about tonight's trip to Fratton Park. Those that braved the cold rain were certainly entertained and left happy with Portsmouth's first league win in 6 matches and the first this month. David Connolly scored in the 61st minute to give Portsmouth the lead from a wonderful cross by Danny East. East gathered the ball off a throw-in deep in Chesterfield's end and bent the ball into the box with the outside of his right foot towards Connolly. The ball sent in seemed harmless, however, Connolly beat his mark to the ball and half-volleyed the ball into the roof of the net. Fratton Park was sent into an uproar as Connolly put in his 10th league goal this season. This was exactly what Pompey need heading into the new year and the January transfer window. Should we look for reinforcements to come in?

Up Next: League 2 Match @ Fleetwood Town (5-4-16 19pts, 23rd)



31.12.13

Accrington 1-2 Oxford United
Burton Albion 1-0 Plymouth Argyle
Cheltenham Town 2-2 Bury
Dagenham 1-1 AFC Wimbledon
Exeter City 1-1 Newport County
Fleetwood Town 2-0 Southend United
Morecambe 0-0 Mansfield Town
Northampton 0-0 Hartlepool
Portsmouth 1-0 Chesterfield
S****horpe United 2-0 Rochdale
Wycombe 1-3 Bristol Rovers
York City 1-2 Torquay United

[pfeifere1]

4. January 2014
Fleetwood Town vs. Portsmouth
Highbury Stadium


Fleetwood Town 0-1 Portsmouth

28' David Connolly (pen) - POR


The lone goal of the match comes from the penalty spot.

The latest approach by Pompey has been to lock it down defensively and figure out a way to find the back of the net in any way possible. This was the case again this evening against Fleetwood Town. In the 27th minute, a whipped ball across the box caused chaos amongst the Fleetwood town defense and struck the hand of a defender. The ensuing penalty was taken by Pompey captain David Connolly who placed the ball into the top left corner of the net, just out of the reach of the keeper. For right now it appears as if Portsmouth have found their winning ways again as they were able to shut down Fleetwood Town for the rest of the game and collect their second consecutive shutout.

David Connolly was able to enjoy his 11th goal of the league season.

Up Next: League 2 Match vs. Bury (9-9-8 36 pts, 13th)



4.1.14

AFC Wimbledon 2-1 S****horpe United
Bristol Rovers 1-1 Northampton
Bury 0-1 Dagenham
Fleetwood Town 0-1 Portsmouth
Hartlepool 1-0 York City
Mansfield Town 1-2 Cheltenham Town
Newport County 5-1 Accrington
Oxford United 2-2 Morecambe
Plymouth Argyle 1-1 Chesterfield
Rochdale 2-2 Burton Albion
Southend United 1-2 Wycombe
Torquay United 1-1 Exeter City