Neil Allen's verdict on Portsmouth's 3-0 loss at Blackburn

The News, Portsmouth

Pompey's 3-0 loss at Blackburn - Neil Allen's verdict

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00:00Hi, this is from Iwerd Park, where I'm currently yet again in the auditorium there, where John

00:08Massino's just had his press conference and talked about the game, which was a 3-0 Pompey

00:13defeat. Very, very frustrating, especially considering Pompey still had three goals in

00:1815 minutes in the second half, when up until that point they were very comfortable, nothing

00:22in the game. The main gist of the press conference from John Massino was the decision not to

00:29award a penalty. I'll be writing about this very soon, but he went to see the referee

00:35after the game to give him feedback, let's say, and ask him what happened. Pompey were

00:44adamant. I'll explain the situation, what happened. Pompey were 1-0 down, Marlon Pack

00:49puts the ball down to the right channel, Callum Lange sprints onto it, knocks it inside past

00:55the goalkeeper, the goalkeeper makes contact with him, he goes on the floor, Bishop then

01:01heads the ball towards goal, it's clear that they're flying, and then Blackburn hits them

01:06on the break and score, and it's 2-0. So it's a key moment of the game, that was really

01:11the penalty that never was. Massino was convinced it was a penalty. I'm sure many of you have

01:17seen replays and it did look like a penalty. There was contact there, wasn't there? So

01:21Massino was really, really annoyed that wasn't given. He said the linesman gave it but the

01:26referee didn't. So it's an interesting one there. But yeah, it just rubbed salt into

01:32the wound, didn't it? Because straight after that wasn't given, Middlesbrough scored and

01:35it was 2-0. It could have been one-all with a penalty, it ended up with 2-0. But overall,

01:42Pompey again on the road. They've got this awful habit of just conceding quick goals

01:47and they capitulate. They've done it time and time again on the road this season, haven't

01:51they? And they've now lost six in a row away from home as well, away from Fratton Park,

01:55which puts more pressure on them succeeding at Fratton Park, doesn't it? And again, they're

01:59at home to Minnesota this Saturday and the pressure's on to try to win that and that's

02:03where a good team. So this is the situation Pompey put themselves in. But there really

02:10wasn't anything in the game until that first goal and it was a poor first goal. Goodness

02:15knows how he scored with a header from that angle past Smith. And it was a poor first

02:21goal. Pompey just had clumps of conceding goals. And then, it's a bit harsh a scoreline

02:32really. Pompey, Bishop obviously hit the bar, he had another great chance in the second

02:36half and Blackburn didn't have a lot until the 61st minute and then suddenly they get

02:44three goals in 15 minutes. It's just concerning yet again from Pompey how brittle they are

02:50at the back. We know they're missing defenders still. We know there's time in the transfer

02:54window. Goodness knows Pompey need to strengthen the transfer window. Two of the signers from

03:00the summer have already packed their bags and gone because they didn't work out. And

03:05they need to strengthen in this window. So we shall see. But another away defeat, more

03:14goals, more capitulation. And it's at Thratton Park and Pompey are strong at Thratton Park,

03:19aren't they? So more pressure on Pompey to succeed against Millsborough. So yeah, another

03:24dismal day. Fans were brilliant, honestly were. I'm not even just saying it, they were

03:27superb. Blackburn fans couldn't raise the voice at all game, they didn't make anything.

03:3313,000 as well. 13,000 at Ewood Park. Very empty considering how well they're doing but

03:39Pompey fans were brilliant as well. So I see Jim Beck, stop playing Pakistan to half.

03:44Yeah, but you've got the issue of two left-sided, perhaps right-footed or whatever. But there

03:48you go. So Daniel Scorline is in the United States. Stonewall penalty lines must have

03:53rocked his flag. I think John Messina agrees with that. I think Scorline is harsh, but

03:57it's a defeat, isn't it? So right, long journey back. Pompey have a press conference ahead

04:02of the Midsomer game at 11 o'clock tomorrow morning. So me and Julian are staying up tonight

04:06to finish our work and driving back very early. So yeah, 11 o'clock tomorrow and we'll

04:12do a Facebook Live from that press conference then. So thank you and good night.

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