It never rains but it pours for Portsmouth at the moment. Crisis-hit Pompey now playing in League One after two successive relegations and administrations had to release all senior players recently to avoid liquidation. In their opening game of the season in the Capital One Cup first round tie away to League 2 Plymouth, Portsmouth had no option but to field a near-youth team with nine teenagers in their starting XI. Needless to say they lost that one 3-0 with Plymouth progressing to the second round and of course the Pilgrims now play Burnley at Turf Moor this Tuesday night.
Portsmouth manager Michael Appleton is certainly in a bit of a pickle. Undeterred though, a week last Thursday the Pompey gaffer brought in 10 new players on short-term contracts and completed four loan signings in time for the League One opener at home to local rivals, Bournemouth.
One of those signings of course was Burnley defender, Kevin Long who has joined the Hampshire club on a one month emergency loan basis. Long played in the opener and helped his side to a 1-1 draw which was some achievement really considering Appleton was forced to put out a team of 11 debutants! Pompey then earned another draw in their second game away to Colchester with Kevin Long once again in defence helping his side come away with a point in a game that finished 2-2. So far so good considering Pompey`s plight but it all went tits up for Portsmouth and Kevin Long in their third game of the season last Saturday. Pompey faced Carlisle at Brunton Park and were already 2-0 down by the time Kevin Long picked up a second bookable offence in the second half and was shown a red card for a foul on Jervis after a challenge from behind on the half-way line. One Pompey fan`s comment kind of summed up their predicament when he said in a blog:
“Just as Pompey seemed to be making some headway they suffered a blow when Kevin Long received a second yellow card for a challenge from behind on the half way line. Mr Ilderton flashed yellow followed by red and Long traipsed off the field of play past the dugouts and in to the tunnel looking wet, bedraggled and very sorry for himself”
The game looked to be over now for 10 men Portsmouth but Pompey’s Ashley Harris’s injury-time header began a goal rush. James Berrett’s strike restored Carlisle`s two-goal lead before Conor Clifford pulled a goal back for the visitors. Carlisle though had the last laugh after Paddy Madden ensured a United victory to make the final score 4-2 and complete a miserable day for all Pompey fans.Oh well and you think we have problems!
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