A first home defeat in 4 months for the Blues as Millwall take all 3 points from a tight Championship affair at Fratton Park.
Millwall managed to grind out the win thanks to a Mihailo Ivanovic goal just before half-time.
It was an extremely gritty defensive performance from The Lions that stopped Pompey from having any chance of putting the ball in the back of the net all game.
Neil’s side stayed strong throughout and secured what is now their second win away from home in the space of 4 days, after defeating Luton by the same scoreline at Kenilworth Road this past Saturday.
For Pompey, the form at ‘Fortress Fratton’ comes to an end with their seven game unbeaten run at home coming to an abrupt end.
Millwall had a chance to take the lead very early on, when January signing Aaron Connolly found himself with the ball down the left flank, before crossing it into the penalty area, but 20-year-old Raees Bangura-Williams was unable to connect with what was an open goal.
George Saville whipped in a deep corner just moments later that was met by Tristan Crama who headed the ball back into the area, but Ivanovic was unable to finish the header off, instead hitting the side netting.
Josh Murphy then dribbled down the left wing, past the Frenchman Crama with ease to put the ball on a plate for Colby Bishop, but the Blues’ number 9 got both his feet tied up and was unable to find the ball in the back of the net, hitting it wide and keeping the scoreline goalless.
Portsmouth then had another chance to take the lead, but Callum Lang’s header was not strong enough to cause Liam Roberts any problems, following Connor Ogilvie’s in swinging cross.
Marlon Pack then found himself completely out of position, leaving new signing Hayden Matthews all alone when Casper De Norre and Bangura-Williams played a quick 1-2.
That quick movement then saw Bangura-Williams play a long through ball up to Ivanovic who got ahead of Matthews, before dinking the ball past Nicholas Schmid in the Blues net to make it one-nil five minutes before the break.
Half-time: Portsmouth 0-1 Millwall
Pompey had a chance to equalise just after the hour mark when man of the match Josh Murphy made light work of Crama down the left hand side, before crossing the ball into the area missing everyone, but Matt Ritchie came in at the back post, but had his efforts to head home shifted wide of the goal.
Issac Hayden came off from Andre Dozzell on 67 minutes and it was then a triple substitute by Alex Neil, bringing off Bangura-Williams for Ryan Wintle, De Norre for Billy Mitchell and the goal soccer Ivanovic was off for Macauley Langstaff.
It was then a triple substitution of Portsmouth’s own, when Hayden Matthews came off to cheer reaction for the sub of Connor Shaughnessy who makes his return back to the Pompey side in what is his first and only appearance at Fratton Park all season.
The scorer of Saturday's constellation goal at West Brom; Thomas Waddingham came on for Ritchie and Christian Saydee came on for Zack Swanson.
With five minutes of added time, Millwall turned to desperation mode, bringing on Murray Wallace to go to a back five in the final minutes of the game.
Unfortunately, Pompey’s efforts to potentially snatch a point were slim, with hardly any chances of grabbing a late equaliser occurring, struggling to get past Millwall’s back line.
Full-time: Portsmouth 0-1 Millwall
Next up: the action at Fratton Park continues for Pompey as they welcome automatic promotion chasers Burnley this Saturday.
It’s a return to the South-Coast for Scott Parker, who will be looking to push his side back to the premier league at the first time of asking like he did with AFC Bournemouth 3 years ago.
It’s a must win on Saturday for John Mousinho’s side with the pressure piling on the Blues in the table.
Arguably Pompey’s most difficult game at home, after tonight’s defeat the Blues have got to get a result to steer as far away as possible from the relegation zone.
Portsmouth: 13. Schmid (GK), 22. Swanson (15. Saydee), 7. Pack (C), 44. Matthews (6. Shaughnessy), 3. Ogilvie, 23. Murphy, 8. Potts, 45. Hayden (21. Dozzell), 30. Ritchie (20. Waddingham), 49. Lang, 9. Bishop
Unused Subs: 31. Archer (GK), 16. McIntyre, 17. Moxon, 24. Devlin, 29. Blair
Millwall: 13. Roberts (GK), 15. Bryan, 5. Cooper (C), 6. Tanganga, 52. Crama, 23. Saville (3. Wallace) 24. De Norre (8. Mitchell), 31. Bangura-Williams (14. Wintle), 19. Watmore (39. Honeyman) 9. Connolly, 26. Ivanovic (17. Langstaff)
Unused Subs: 27. Trueman, 29. Leahy, 45. Harding, 51. Kendall
Bookings: Bangura-Williams 53’, Connolly 62’
Goals: Ivanovic 40’
Venue: Fratton Park
Referee: Dean Whitestone
Attendance: 19,815 (including 1,094 Millwall supporters)
You can replay the Pompey Live: Extra-Time podcast from this evening's game, where Jake Smith, Pepe Lacey and James Wilson reported LIVE from Fratton Park.
Join Jake Smith for even more reaction when The Football Hour returns on Friday (January 31st) from 6pm. He will be joined alongside 2 Blues fans to also look ahead to Saturday's visit of Burnley to PO4.
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