Blues subjected to a Trophy trouncing as boss prioritises promotion mission
ON THE day the Fratton faithful’s hopes of attending one Blues Wembley final were dashed – ambitions of being present for another also ended.
Ruthless Peterborough ensured there will be no Pompey participation in the 2021 Papa
John’s Trophy showpiece.
Quite when last year’s final will be held is yet to be determined, but it won’t involve supporters after the Football League admitted defeat in keeping turnstiles open.
Still, in the here and now, a second cup loss in 72 hours means League One is the sole focus. There should be no distractions.
Peterborough had made three changes to the side which drew with league leaders Lincoln City at the weekend, arguably strengthening their starting XI in the process.
In contrast, Kenny Jackett initiated 10 alterations, including granting a full debut and debut in a line-up consisting of three teenagers.
By the end of the game, Pompey had totted up first-team bows for two goalkeepers as the encounter descended into friendly fare.
Clearly Jackett is fully aware of where this season’s priorities lie – now his gaze is exclusively on the Championship.
Peterborough ran out 5-1 winners at London Road to reach the quarter-finals as the visitors’ second string were brutally exposed without conscience.
Jack Taylor, Jonson Clarke-Harris, Frankie Kent, Siriki Dembele and Ethan Hamilton all wrote themselves on the scoresheet as the Blues begged for the final whistle to end the suffering.
Certainly spare a thought for Duncan Turnbull, conceding four on his debut, before being replaced
Much-changed Pompey suffer heavy last-16 defeat at the hands of powerful Peterborough outfit. NEIL ALLEN reports...
by Taylor Seymour on the hour.
Nonetheless, he was let down by other more senior figures in front of him, with Paul Downing desperately struggling and Bryn Morris hugely disappointing.
In fact, skipper Downing was replaced with 18 minutes remaining, the sight of substitute Callum Johnson being introduced as a makeshift centre-half in the back three saying plenty.
At least in the first half there were promising suggestions of a decent strike partnership between Jordy Hiwula and Ellis Harrison, but both soon faded along with the team.
Although Harrison’s stunning 25-yard stoppage-time strike did provide a classy consolation.
Still, Pompey are back in League One action on Saturday with a trip to Fleetwood Town.
And none of those who began the rout against Peterborough can expect to feature in the starting line-up as Jackett prioritises promotion.
For his team selection, the Blues’ boss was without
Alex Bass, missing with a dead leg sustained in training, while Craig MacGillivray was rested after featuring against Bristol City on Sunday.
Instead, goalkeeping duties were handed to the 6ft 7in Turnbull at London Road.
The American, who had an unsuccessful loan spell at Dulwich Hamlet earlier in the season, was among 10 changes for the Blues.
Of the side which started Sunday’s 2-1 defeat, only Rasmus Nicolaisen retained his place.
Even then, the Dane was withdrawn at half-time at Ashton Gate in favour of Jack Whatmough, who was not included in last night’s squad.
Nicolaisen, James Bolton and Downing formed a back three, with Harry Kavanagh and Harvey Rew serving as wing-backs.
There was also a full debut for Harry Jewitt-White, who had already appeared as a substitute in the competition for the Blues this season.
Up front Harrison partnered Hiwula, who both appeared as substitutes at Bristol City.
Haji Mnoga was missing through suspension, having collected two bookings in the competition.
When the match got underway, Pompey carved out their first opportunity within the opening two minutes.
An excellent move down the left, chiefly between Harrison and Hiwula, saw the ball come across to Kavanagh on the edge of the area down the right.
Well placed, the wing-back elected to take a touch before firing off a shot which was charged down, when perhaps he should have hit it first time.
Moments later, Harrison would have been disappointed not to have broken the deadlock following a Ben Close free-kick from the left.
The ball found the striker at the far post and his angled header looked destined for the net, only to ricochet off Hamilton and deflect wide.
Yet it was Peterborough who took the lead, through poor defending from the Blues on 15 minutes.
Jewitt-White had intercepted a pass across the box, only to dwell too long on the ball and Taylor pounced with an excellent angled finish.
Pompey could have hit back almost instantly, but Harrison over-hit his pass through to Hiwula, forcing him wide and effectively ending the opportunity.
Hiwula then produced an overhead kick, with back to goal, which was somehow spectacularly turned over by Christy Pym when it appeared to be the leveller.
On 24 minutes, Downing slipped inside the box, allowing Dembele to have possession and the forward cut inside only to see his attempt saved at point-blank range by Turnbull.
It was an excellent stop from the
debutant, his first real involvement.
It was 2-0 to the Posh on 29 minutes when Clarke-Harris curled in a delightful left-footed free-kick from the edge of the area after a foul had been given against Downing.
With half-time approaching, Kavanagh’s ball from the right was headed away so far as Jewitt-White, whose first-time rightfooted attempt flew over the crossbar.
On the stroke of half-time, Joe Ward’s free-kick from the left was bundled over the line by Kent to give Posh a dominant 3-0 advantage.
Pompey opted to make no changes at the break and, within seven minutes of the restart, it was 4-0 through Dembele’s deft flick over the goalkeeper.
On 58 minutes, Posh brought on Mo Eisa and Ricky-Jade Jones for goalscorers Dembele and ClarkeHarris.
That was followed by a 61st-minute double substitution by the Blues, with Taylor Seymour coming on for Turnbull and Charlie Bell for Jewitt-White.
As the Blues valiantly clung on to keep the scoreline down, Alfie Bridgman was handed his first-team debut in the 81st minute, representing another second-year scholar promoted.
Then, on 86 minutes, Hamilton drove a low free-kick under the wall and into the net, with Seymour beaten far too easily to make it 5-0.
Harrison pulled one back for Pompey in stoppage time with a stunning shot from 25 yards, but it couldn’t prevent a thumping defeat – and Papa John’s Trophy elimination.