Pompey 3-0 Bristol City: Jon Harley's post-match verdict

The News, Portsmouth

Pompey assistant head coach Jon Harley shares his thoughts on the Blues' 3-0 win against Bristol City

Transcript

00:00It felt like a really professional performance, taking into account the conditions. Bristol

00:08City are a fantastic team, we've watched a hell of a lot of them this season. Watching

00:13their last game against Plymouth, they were outstanding. It was 4-0, it could have been

00:184-0 before they even scored the first goal. They were that dominant, so we knew what we

00:22were going into and we had to be really well organised. We did a lot of work on our possession,

00:30and that was really key for the overall performance. If you look at a couple of the

00:35goals, they were from pressing high up the pitch and it paid off. Ultimately, the fact

00:41that we just maintained it until that final, which was a seven-minute injury time, 97 minutes

00:46of football, it just felt like a real professional performance, so I was really happy with it.

00:52It was a fast start to the first half, but equally the second half, obviously with recent

00:56history now, the first 10 minutes have gone, you must have been really pleased with the

00:59start of the season?

01:00Yes, it's something we've actually looked at, the second half of games. Obviously, result-wise,

01:08this is probably our highest-conceding goals as well, so it's something we had to really

01:13just get the mindset of the player to tease us through. Unfortunately, the timing of the

01:17goals in the second half just kept relieving that pressure a little bit more.

01:21Josh Murphy has really got into form, hasn't he?

01:23Yes, he's a fantastic player. We saw him last season, what he did at Oxford and he's now

01:30carrying that into his performances here. He's been huge for us and it's important that

01:38we have a player like that, especially as an outlet when we have transitions and we

01:43can counter-attack teams. His speed is just a player that I think opposition teams will fear.

01:48And that's back-to-back home wins, that's going to be a crucial home-form this season?

01:52Yes, obviously, to get a home-form going, this place really rocks. It's great coming

02:01here, obviously winning games and it's going to be really key for us throughout the season.

02:06The fans have actually been really fantastic with us all season so far because, obviously,

02:10results have not been as we wanted, especially in the earlier part of the season. They've

02:15constantly been behind us and constantly been supportive. Fortunately, we can give a little

02:21bit back and enjoy these moments together.

02:24And that Lange yellow card must have been a frustrating one, right?

02:28Yes, very frustrating. Obviously, it's a needless one as well. He's really frustrated himself.

02:33You know, it is what it is, it happens. There's three games this week, obviously,

02:39game two will be back available for the Derby game. So, yes, that's just how it goes.

02:45And the last one for me, how was the dynamic and the communication working

02:48at the bench? Obviously, it's the second time, I think, now you've been in the dugout.

02:52Yes, I mean, it's quite clear. Jon's obviously mites up and he's watching from another part

02:57of the ground. So, you know, you can see everything. But as I just said, all the work's

03:03done during the week and what goes on on the pitch now, the boys just manage it and lead

03:08on it themselves. So, you know, there's a lot of credit to the boys, but it could become

03:13a matchday. Our work's not as important as some people may think.

03:19Thank you. Brilliant.

03:22Does that go down as a season tie, that performance today?

03:27I don't know. I mean, I think every win's important. I think the first win we got was key.

03:33It's nice to get back-to-back home wins as well. So, yes, I mean, they're all a great

03:40feeling. But we just need to make sure we keep that momentum, especially our home games.

03:45We can try and keep on top of them and picking points up at home. That'll see us through,

03:49I'm sure. It certainly felt like the most dominant and probably the most complete

03:53performance of the season. Yes, I think so. I mean, obviously, we've had to adapt to a degree

04:00how we've played this season. We're obviously not having as much possession as we've had

04:05definitely last year. But there's been a lot more focus on how we're set up out of possession and

04:10how we're trying to press things. It felt like the boys, for the whole duration of that game today,

04:16they worked their socks off when they didn't have the ball. And then when we did have it,

04:21they were quite impactful. And obviously, when we got chances, they were clinical as well. So,

04:27yes, it's a really good feeling. I've been asking about whether the intensity

04:31can be maintained for 90 minutes and that high press. We've got pretty good, positive evidence

04:36of that today. From the first goal, that resulted in a high turnover and the boys were doing it

04:40right to the 97th minute, weren't they? Yes, yes. Well, I mean, that's what we've been drilling in

04:45and it's really difficult to maintain that, as we've probably seen definitely in the Swansea

04:51game. But, yes, I think we've kind of reflected on that and realised that it's something we have

04:56to do with the subs. When players tie, it's important that the subs are ready and they

05:00come on and maintain where everyone else has left off. And it just felt today that

05:06everyone pulled everything together and we got it over the line quite comfortably in the end.

05:12Regan Poole, coming back from 10 months off, probably was manning a match-up

05:16learning that first game and then probably an up and down by his own admission. Talk about his

05:19performance today. Yes, I mean, yes, Regan's been quite honest about his performances and,

05:25you know, I think you need that to drive on. But, yes, I mean, today he's a big character in the

05:31group. He's a big talker and it's something we really wanted to drive and get a clean sheet as

05:37well. So, fortunately, we did get that and, I mean, you can hear him on the sideline. He's

05:43constantly driving. He's on the front foot. He's a real energetic player. I think the fans really

05:47like him. And, yes, he's a real good player. He's going to be key to us. I think if we can

05:54maintain his form and get key performances like that, he'll be key to us going forward.

05:59Yes. How did the conditions play into it today and build it up to it? How was that?

06:04Well, in the first half, obviously, we had the win more with us. So, that kind of did affect

06:10how we played. We were maybe probably a little bit more direct at times when the second ball

06:15was playing in their half. Then, in the second half, we had to deal a little bit more with the

06:21wind blowing against us and the players had to adapt out on the pitch. They just did it well.

06:27They've just kind of recognised where the ball was dropping. You're constantly having to change

06:34your line of defence. But, yes, they read it. They sort of read the situation and just got

06:40it over the line. The reason you're talking to us today is because John's on the naughty

06:44step, isn't he? So, just explain what's happened there and how it unfolded for you lads.

06:49Yes, well, John's situation. Swansea, he picked up his third booking on complaining about where

06:58the throwing was taken on the goal and the fact that it wasn't even a Swansea throw. So,

07:02that was his third booking. So, he watched it from the gantry today. It was me down in the

07:08technical area. But, it literally didn't affect anything at all. I think matchday is all about

07:13the players and their performance. You say he's mic'd up with you boys, is he? Were you all in

07:18communication throughout? Yes, there's communication. Not directly with me because I'm

07:23obviously out in the technical area. But, yes, he's seen the game. It's quite a straightforward

07:28process. But, yes, I think actually today turned out to be a bit of an easier day for him to be up

07:36there. Yes, but John I know is a fairly superstitious bloke. So, what's that mean for

07:40Tuesday now? No, no, no, no. Well, we won the league last year with him down in the technical

07:46area. So, if we're being superstitious, I think we'll stick with that. Hold on a minute. What

07:49about Wickham last season? You were down there as well. You've not got a bad record. Yes,

07:53no, I know that. But, yes, I think 97 points last year with him in the technical area.

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