JASON KILLS OFF POMPEY
CHRIS Powell continued his unbeaten start as Southend boss with victory against Portsmouth – despite feeling his side were not at their best.
The win was Powell’s fourth in five games since arriving at Roots Hall.
But the 48-year-old felt the Shrimpers did not play to their full potential against a Portsmouth side who had Nathan Thompson sent off midway through the second half.
“We didn’t play well and that’s the strange thing about it but it’s the end of a three-game week,” said Powell.
“That takes a lot out of you so maybe that had something to do with how we started.
“However, we found ourselves 2-0 up after 12 minutes and managed the game well after that.
“Conceding like we did made it a bit edgy but Michael Turner and Anton Ferdinand played really, really well and were very clever with how they defended.
“At the other end, JD (Jason Demetriou) has got a couple of goals and I gave him a standing ovation which I thought he deserved.
“He’s been very, very good and he took his goals well although some are saying his second was actually an own goal but I’ll let him claim it.”
The Shrimpers – who are now 13th in the League One standings – went in front after just three minutes when Portsmouth defender Matt Clarke thundered the ball into his own net when attempting to tackle Shayon Harrison.
A resurgent Southend doubled their lead in the 12th minute when Demetriou blasted home a Stephen McLaughlin pass from 20 yards but the visitors got back in the game in the 36th minute when Gareth Evans tapped home from close range after Brett Pitman had teed him up from Jamal Lowe’s right-wing cross.
However, Portsmouth’s hopes of a comeback were hit midway through the second half when Thompson was dismissed for a late challenge on Ben Coker.
Southend almost immediately made the most of their extra man when Harrison headed wide from 12 yards.
But the Shrimpers stayed on top and sealed their win in the 84th minute when Dru Yearwood charged forward and teed up Demetriou to net with a calm finish from 12 yards
That made the Cypriot international Southend’s top scorer with eight goals and frustrated Portsmouth manager Kenny Jackett, whose side have now triumphed just once in 2018.
“We were too brittle at the back and we are not keeping clean sheets like we were before Christmas,” said Jackett.
“The goals we are conceding are not great ones and we are now consistently giving ourselves mountains to climb.
“I have no complaints about the red card to Nathan Thompson either.
“It was right in front of me and the tackle was high.”