HIGHS AND LOWS
Pompey look
Saturday was merely the latest demonstration of an escalating problem which threatens to devastate the season and potentially permanently set the fans on the players and their head coach.
It is worth stressing once more that this is a massively rebuilt squad merely seven league games and six weeks into a season, with another 39 matches on hand to change fortunes.
There remains every opportunity to reinvigorate this flagging side and uncover a winning formula. Certainly this is no time for histrionics and hysterics.
Nonetheless, the warning signs exist and Saturday offered up more compelling evidence that, crucially, this team lack the creative powers to drive them up the table.
The striking situation concerning John Marquis and Ellis Harrison has been well documented, likewise the erratic nature of Curtis and Harness at present for all the undoubted talent they possess.
Cowley recalled Curtis and
Harrison for the visit of Cambridge, among five changes to a team which slipped to defeat at MK Dons the previous weekend.
Their re-emergence made sense, with Reeco Hackett-Fairchild and Marquis dropped to the bench, while there was a debut for Arsenal’s Miguel Azeez and a home bow for man of the match Mahlon Romeo.
The other alteration was enforced. With Clark Robertson injured and potential deputy Connor Ogilvie also ruled out, Paul Downing was handed his first league start of the campaign.
There was also a welcome attacking feel to the bench, with Cowley naming forwards Marquis and Hirst among his substitutes, a pairing he would later turn to.
Back at Fratton Park for the first time in more than a month, it was all set up for a morale-boosting triumph and the goals finally flowing. Then, on 38 minutes, George Williams’ left-footed cross from the right was met by Joe Ironside six yards out, rising above Downing and Romeo to head the ball into the far corner for Cambridge’s opener.
Their lead was extended on 69 minutes when Sean Raggett’s clearing header following Adam May’s right-sided corner fell to Liam O’Neil outside the box and he struck a marvellous left-footed half-volley to make it 2-0.
A potential grandstand finish was set up with 14 minutes remaining, when Curtis lashed in a right-footed halfvolley from the angle for 2-1.
Yet these days Pompey struggle to dredge up one goal-scoring opportunity in a match, let alone two, and a fourth successive defeat in all competitions reflects deep problems.