Blues show they’re not just a team for the big occasion in demolition of Dons
Swaggering and ruthless, Pompey dispatch strugglers with the air of a side capable of promotion.
SINCE the start of December, Pompey have raised themselves admirably to triumph over promotion rivals.
Last night they adjusted their sights to inflict a similar outcome against struggling AFC Wimbledon.
Reassuringly, Kenny Jackett’s men are demonstrating they don’t merely thrive on the big occasions.
And the visitors were dispatched exhibiting the same professionalism and callousness as wins over Peterborough, Ipswich, Hull and Fleetwood since December 5.
In the process, Pompey rattled up four or more goals in a match for a fifth time this season – four of them arriving in the league.
Granted, Pompey began slowly against a side languishing in League One’s relegation zone before kick-off.
However, there exists a ruthless cutting edge to this Blues team, as three goals in 17 minutes will testify.
With a 3-0 advantage at half-time, the match was effectively over.
Sure enough, Jackett would use the second half to bring on four substitutes.
Certainly Wimbledon had the potential to provide a slip up, such instances have happened plenty of times down the years.
Yet the Blues’ mindset was as impressive as the scoreline, which surely must hearten the Fratton faithful in this promotion push.
No nudging or nurdling, grinding out a narrow victory, this was achieved with a swagger and a strut. With an air of a side capable of reaching the Championship.
John Marquis, Ryan Williams,
Sean Raggett and substitute Ben Close all netted in the 4-0 success which puts the Blues one point off league leaders Hull.
Incidentally, Hull are also the next opposition – at Fratton Park.
Pompey’s boss opted to retain the side which claimed a 1-0 victory at Fleetwood on Saturday.
That was despite the welcome return of Ronan Curtis after missing three matches through coronavirus.
The Irishman was instead named on the bench, with Michael Jacobs continuing on the left-hand side of midfield.
Joining him among the substitutes was Harvey White, 24 hours after his arrival from Spurs on loan for the remainder of the season.
The teenage midfielder had just one training session with his new team-mates. Now he was taking his place on the Blues’ seven-man bench. Making way for Curtis and White were James Bolton and Haji Mnoga, who dropped out of the squad.
Meanwhile, Alex Bass remains sidelined by a calf problem, while Paul Downing has a hamstring injury.
There was a minute’s applause for Bobby Kellard before kick-off, the combative midfielder having recently passed away at the age of
77.
A patchy start to the game saw
Wimbledon win the first corner on eight minutes, which ended up in a shot floating harmlessly to Craig MacGillivray.
Little quality was on display during the early part of the fixture and on 13 minutes Luke O’Neill saw a left-footed shot from outside the box sail over Pompey’s crossbar.
Moments later, a cross came in from the right which Marquis laid off into the path of the onrushing Andy Cannon.
His first-time left-footed shot was pushed out by Sam Walker, but nobody could capitalise with the goalkeeper grounded.
There was a scare for the Blues on 19 minutes when O’Neill’s corner from the left sparked a scramble inside the six-yard box, with the ball stabbed just wide of the near post.
Few would have had a clue where the shot was heading during the melee, but thankfully for the hosts it trickled away from the intended target for a goal kick.
Pompey were struggling to get going, epitomised by Marcus Harness playing a left-footed pass into the centre of the pitch straight to an opponent, despite having time on the ball.
There was now driving rain and when Williams threatened to run between two Wimbledon players while chasing a ball over the top, he was obstructed.
From Lee Brown’s resulting free-kick, Sean Raggett sent a header over the crossbar.
The deadlock was broken on 27 minutes through Pompey’s first meaningful attack of the game.
A fine interchange of passes saw Callum Johnson fed down the right and his cross was directed towards goal by the head of Williams.
It appeared goalkeeper Walker had it covered as he dived, but Marquis popped up to force the ball home at the far post for his 13th goal of the season in all competitions.
In Pompey’s next attack, another dangerous Johnson cross was claimed well at his near post by the Wimbledon stopper.
On 35 minutes, the pace of Williams panicked last man Will Nightingale into conceding a corner down the left.
From the resulting flag kick, the ball was picked up by Harness down the right and his cross was met with a Jack Whatmough header which Walker plucked from the air.
Pompey increased their lead on 36 minutes following a stunning strike from Williams.
Marquis, with back to goal, laid the ball to Williams, who carried it forward before striking a magnificent left-footed shot which curled into the far corner of the net.
Following a lacklustre start, two goals in 11 minutes had given Jackett’s men a 2-0 lead.
It was 3-0 on 44 minutes, with Jacobs the architect from a free-kick delivered down the right after he had been fouled by Dan Czoka.
The winger’s precise flighted delivery was met with a towering Raggett far-post header, giving the goalkeeper no chance.
Wimbledon didn’t make any substitutions at the break, although did ditch their system of a back three for a conventional flat back four.
On 52 minutes, a delightful counter-attack between Harness, Jacobs and Williams saw the latter push a pass through to Marquis, but he was offside.
Wimbledon could have reduced the deficit when O’Neill’s deep cross from the right was headed past the far post by Jack Rudoni.
In the 62nd minute, Curtis replaced Jacobs, ending an eye-catching display from the ex-Wigan man.
Jackett made a double substitution on 70 minutes, with Cannon and Marquis replaced by Ellis Harrison and White.
The fourth goal was registered by Close a minute from time, placing a right-footed shot into the far corner – a classy finish.
A thumping win for the Blues – and next up are the league leaders.