CITY HIT BACK TO DRAW WITH PORTSMOUTH
ROBINS COME FROM 2-0 DOWN TO LEAD 3-2 BEFORE EXTENDED PRE-SEASON GAME AT FAILAND FINISHES 3-3
ASWELTERING Failand afternoon saw a six-goal thrilling friendly played out as Bristol City continued their warm-up for the new Championship season with a 3-3 draw against Portsmouth.
City gave manager Nigel Pearson plenty of food for thought as the home side conceded three, and it could have been more, as they build up their fitness. But they also hit three as well, as their forward line showed potency.
Indeed, did they hit four goals? Young winger Marlee Francois was lent to Portsmouth for the final 30 minutes, with Danny Cowley’s side short of numbers, and of course it had to be the newly-loaned player who popped up to drill under Dan Bentley for a late equaliser. The Australia Under-23 attacker twisted in the area and before scoring during a special additional 30 minutes of match action to aid the players’ new season prep.
Nahki Wells, on co-commentary on Robins TV, admitted that he wasn’t sure what line to tread: “I don’t know whether to celebrate or not,” said the returning international striker.
The hot conditions seemed to play havoc for a while as Pompey were unable to even name their team until just 20 minutes before kick-off.
But with trialist Gassan Ahadme impressing in attack, it was the side from the south coast who looked sharpest in the first half and took the lead. A lightning counterattack, after the Robins squandered possession in the middle of the pitch, saw John Marquis attack the City goal. Max O’Leary pulled off a smart save to but Lee Brown was afforded too much time and space to pick out a cross in the resulting transitional play and Ahadme nipped between Nathan Baker and Rob Atkinson to convert at the back post.
It was routine stuff on a non-routine day as former Rovers defender Brown then limped off, with a drinks breaks taken, and there was some relaxed refereeing as Clark Robertson hauled down Andi Weimann as the Austrian burst in on goal from wide.
Slowly, City exerted pressure and the midfield began to buzz as Matty James’ cultured prompting released Chris Martin to backheel for Weimann to slam over.
Kasey Palmer’s passing was just off at times and it looked like it may be one of those afternoons in the first half, with City lacking that requisite quality to break down the visitors.
Portsmouth doubled their lead just before half-time as Danny Cowley’s team saw off a spell of pressure and leapt forward down their right, with George Nurse conceding a penalty.
Ahadme scored his second and while City had pressed, a touch of rust to their play saw them unrewarded at the break.
After the interval though the home side’s persistance was rewarded, but not before coveted winger Ronan Curtis had wasted a glorious chance to give Portsmouth a three-goal lead.
Then the comback. A defelcted cross from James reached Jay Dasilva, playing left wing on this occasion. An intelligent head back to Andi Weimann saw him sweep a shot into the net.
Nine minutes later, Rob Atkinson threaded a precise pass through midfield, which was defltly flicked on by striker Chris Martin for Palmer to be released on goal. The finish was true and in the corner of the net to tie things up at 2-2.
The comeback was complete when, 13 minutes from the end of the regular 90 minutes, Martin won a penalty with a burst into the box and a push from behind. The former Derby man converted with a low shot into his left corner of the net from the spot.
Plenty of team changes came as the match moved into an extra 30 minutes, with slick play in the middle from Ayman Benarous and Andy King, before Pompey capitalised once more on a break - with one of City’s own young guns scoring after young Aussie winger Francoise bit the hand that feeds him, to fire in low under Bentley.
City’s next ore-season game is at home to MK Dons on Saturday.