Pompey fight on all fronts
Ederson 6; Walker 6, Stones 6, Otamendi 5, Danilo 7; De Bruyne 8 (Foden 75, 6), Fernandinho 7 (D Silva 66, 6), Gundogan 7; B Silva 7, Jesus 7 (Aguero 75, 6), Mahrez 6. Subs not used: Muric, Sterling, Laporte, Sane. BURNLEY: Pope 7; Gibson 5, Tarkowski 5, Long 5; Ward 5, Defour 6 (Westwood 77), Hendrick 6, Taylor 5; Mcneil 5, Brady 5 (Cork 46, 6); Vydra 5 (Wood 62, 5). Subs not used: Hart, Mee, Vokes, Barnes.
Kevin De Bruyne . The Belgian capped a fine display with a thumping strike. REFEREE: Graham Scott 5. Possession 75% 25% Shots On Target 10 0 Shots Off Target 5 4 Blocked Shots 6 0 Corners 12 3 Fouls Conceded 5 1 Offsides 1 1 Yellow Cards 1 0 Red Cards 0 0 PORTSMOUTH boss Kenny Jackett insisted that an FA Cup replay will not damage his side’s season after a bruising battle with QPR. The League One promotion-chasers looked to be heading for the fifth round for the first time since getting to the final nine years ago through a Joel Lynch own goal. But Nahki Wells’ late leveller kept Rangers’ hopes alive – before an ugly bust-up erupted, with punches appearing to be thrown. Jackett, ahead of a huge league clash with Luton on Tuesday, said: “The melee came after two heavy challenges – one from our player, one from theirs. Maybe both were bookings. “Both sets of players got in there to support their mates. There was a lot of pushing and shoving – but nothing much else. “We got the goal, but it’s a replay rather than a win.” The 2008 FA Cup winners have a lot on their plate, riding high in the league and one win away from a Checkatrade Trophy Wembley final. But Jackett said: “We should enjoy it, it is a huge challenge but we relish it. What a position to be in, for the last three months of the season.”
Rangers boss Steve Mcclaren said: “With the wind and rain, it was a proper blood and thunder FA Cup tie.
“It was a bad challenge on our player that led to the melee, and you had a reaction from everyone joining in. You want that sort of solidarity in the face of intimidation.
“You have to give the Cup respect with the team selection, and we know the replay won’t be an easy game either.”
Brett Pitman had the ball in the Rangers net after 41 minutes, but ref Gavin Ward ruled it out for a push.
With Pompey finally applying pressure Louis Dennis forced Joe Lumley to tip a dipping 25-yard effort over the bar. Just after the break a Dennis pass beat the offside trap but Pitman shot over.
The breakthrough came after 63 minute when Lee Brown whipped in a cross, and Lynch shanked it into his own goal. But from a QPR corner Wells smashed the ball home.
The free-for-all came in the 77th minute following a bad challenge from Ronan Curtis on Josh Scowen.
Ward booked Curtis, Brown and Lynch – but it could have been more. Possession 46% 54% Shots On Target 2 2 Shots Off Target 5 2 Blocked Shots 0 0 Corners 4 4 Fouls Conceded 9 11 Offsides 2 1 Yellow Cards 3 2 Red Cards 0 0
PORTSMOUTH: Macgillivray 6; Walkes 7, Whatmough 7, Clarke 6, Brown 7; Naylor 6, Donohue 7 (Close 80); Evans 6, Dennis 8, Curtis 6; Pitman 6. Subs not used: Bass, Burgess, Haunstrup, Morris, May, Maloney. QPR: Lumley 6; Furlong 7, Lynch 6, Leistner 7, Bidwell 7; Manning 6, Scowen 6; Wszolek 5 (Smith 71, 7), Oteh 6 (Osayi-samuel 64, 6), Freeman 6; Wells 6 (Chair 90). Subs not used: Ingram, Kakay, Hall, Cousins. MAN OF THE MATCH: Louis Dennis. Plenty of touches of class and creativity in the Portsmouth midfield. REFEREE: Gavin Ward 6.