JWSport Jacek Waszak – Sport journalist
Being at this weekend’s game that day it was very nice weather and everyone was chatting in the pubs and in the stadium there was a very friendly atmosphere and everyone was happy , and I met some coaches and spoke to some former Bristol City and Portsmouth players . It was a really good day so we discussed that Portsmouth , who dropped to 23rd place after a third defeat in four, had not won away since October. As for the hosts, Bristol have a different tactic of letting the visitors gain the upper hand in ball possession and taking it away on the counter-attack should have led to a bigger margin of victory.
Bristol City versus Portsmouth has the better record and good because they are more likely to win at home to Bristol at Ashtone Gate and the key figures behind that say that with 22 wins in the last 55 games between the sides, Bristol City boast the better record in the history of this encounter. Portsmouth have claimed 15 victories in that time and shared the spoils 18 times. Bristol City are unbeaten in nine of their 11 home games in the Championship this season, picking up four wins and five draws.
Portsmouth have failed to win their last six away games, losing four and recording two draws since a 2-1 victory over Queens Park Rangers . Portsmouth have suffered six defeats in 11 away league games this season. In recent direct clashes in different leagues, Bristol City have recorded 3 draws against Portsmouth.
With under 2.5 goals conceded in 67% of Bristol City’s last 6 home games in the Championship, the teams will face each other at Ashton Gate Stadium.
Having lost their last four meetings with Bristol City, Portsmouth will be looking to pick up their first victory since a 3-1 home win in September 2010.
After Mehmeti’s goal, Wells defended Nicolas Schmid’s powerful strike and was close to another opportunity, while Mehmeti’s shot was deflected aside.
The Albanian was in superb form, however, and his eighth goal in 24 Championship appearances came shortly after a clever two-man action with Wells.
Dickie’s quick reaction, after Luke McNally’s header was defended by Schmid, allowed him to pocket a third goal for City.
Scott Twine and substitutes Sam Bell and Yu Hirakawa came close to adding to City’s goal-scoring output after the break, while at the other end Colby Bishop and Marlon Pack were unable to convert rare half opportunities for Portsmouth.
6′ Terry Devlin (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
11′ Attempt missed. Anis Mehmeti (Bristol City) right footed shot from outside the penalty area misses to the left. Assisted by Nahki Wells.
14′ Matt Ritchie (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
15′ Goal! Bristol City 1, Portsmouth 0. Anis Mehmeti (Bristol City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Max Bird with the ball following a fast break.
20′ Attempt saved. Nahki Wells (Bristol City) right footed shot from the right side of the field to the top right corner. Assisted by Scott Twine with a passed ball.
25′ Foul by Matt Ritchie (Portsmouth).
26′ Attempt blocked. Anis Mehmeti (Bristol City) right footed shot from the centre of the field is blocked.
29′ Offside, Bristol City. Nahki Wells caught offside.
32′ Goal! Bristol City 2, Portsmouth 0. Anis Mehmeti (Bristol City) right footed shot from the centre of the field to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Nahki Wells.
35′ Attempt defended. Luke McNally (Bristol City) left footed shot from the centre of the field is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ross McCrorie with a headed pass.
35′ Goal! Bristol City 3, Portsmouth 0. Rob Dickie (Bristol City) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal following a corner kick.
37′ Attempt saved. Paddy Lane (Portsmouth) left footed shot from outside the penalty area to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Owen Moxon.
65′ Attempt saved. Sam Bell (Bristol City) left footed shot from the right side of the penalty area is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Max Bird.
66′ Attempt missed. Anis Mehmeti (Bristol City) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Cameron Pring on the ensuing corner kick.
68′ Foul by Anis Mehmeti (Bristol City).
68‘ Terry Devlin (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the rivals’ half.
81′ Attempt missed. Colby Bishop (Portsmouth) right footed shot from outside the penalty area misses to the left.
87′ Attempt missed. Marlon Pack (Portsmouth) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Terry Devlin with a header following a corner kick.
89′ Attempt missed. Yu Hirakawa (Bristol City) header from the centre of the field is just a bit too high. Assisted by Cameron Pring on the following free kick.
90’+1 Attempt blocked. George Earthy (Bristol City) right footed shot from the left side of the field is blocked. Assisted by Yu Hirakawa.
90’+2 Attempt missed. Zak Vyner (Bristol City) header from the left side of the field. Assisted by Yu Hirakawa with a cross following a corner kick.
They won 3-1 in their last home game against Preston North End and drew 2-2 with Swansea City in South Wales last weekend.
Matt Ritchie and Jacob Murphy scored a goal each to give Pompey a two-goal advantage, but Swansea put up a fight to equalise in the 53rd minute, forcing Portsmouth to work hard to keep a point for the remainder of the contest.
Pompey will now focus on Saturday’s home game, while John Mousinho’s team will be looking to go three league games without defeat for the first time this season.
Bristol City – Portsmouth 3 – 0
C. Bishop (20‘) , J. Murphy (62’) , C. Lang (71′)
Bristol City : 1 M.Oleary GK , 2 Ross McCorrie 3 C.Pring, 6 M Bird , 10 S Twine , 11 A Mehmeti , 12 J Knight (C) , 14 Z Vyner , 15 L McNally , 16 R Dickie , 21 N Wells
Portsmouth : 13 N Schmid GK , 3 C.Ogilvie , 4 R. Towler , 7 M.Pack , 9 C.Bishop , 17 O Moxon , 20 S. Silvera , 21 A.Dozzell , 24 T. Devlin , 30 M. Ritchie , 32 P.Lane
