David Howes reports on a disappointing afternoon at Ashton Gate.
Lorent Tolaj and Jason Knight’s goals for Michael Skubala’s side were enough to make sure that Marko Milovanović’s first goal in Blues colours could not quite help Portsmouth earn at least a point in the West Country.
The defeat means that the Blues’ long wait for a league victory at Ashton Gate continues, now up to 35 years, with the last win in BS3 still coming all the way back in 1991.
John Mousinho kept an unchanged XI to the side that defeated Lincoln City 3-1 away from home last season.
Harvey Blair made his first matchday squad of the season on the bench, instead of Josh Knight, who joined Reading on a season-long loan yesterday.
Ryan Kavuma-McQueen showed intentions to put Portsmouth ahead as he tried to make things happen on the left wing, but was unable to put Mousinho’s side in a position to take the lead.
Tolaj gave the hosts the lead inside half an hour, when former Blue Jed Wallace pumped a ball into the area from the right flank, where it found the Swiss forward, who got in front of Benji Arthur to fire the ball past Nicolas Schmid to make it 1-0.
HALF-TIME: Bristol City 1-0 Portsmouth
Mousinho made one change at the break, with Ebou Adams coming on, and Estonian international Rocco Robert Shein going off.
The Robins doubled their lead ten minutes into the second half, via a set-piece, as City captain Jason Knight nodded home Rio Cardines’ corner to make it 2-0.
It was then two changes for Portsmouth just past the hour mark, with Blair coming on for Kavuma-McQueen, and Marko Milovanović for Colby Bishop up top.
Inside the five minutes of added time, Adrian Segečić came close to his third goal of the season, but the Blues number 10’s effort went wide of Sam Tickle’s net.
Pompey were then awarded a penalty in the fourth minute of added time, as Marezi was fouled in the area.
The Serbian striker stepped up to the spot and calmly placed the ball into the back of the net, sending Tickle the wrong way to give Portsmouth a consolation.
FULL-TIME: Bristol City 2-1 Portsmouth
Bristol City: 1. Tickle (GK), 19. Tanner (38. Eile) 16. Dickie, 2. Eissat, 21. Cardines, 12. Knight (C), 8. Williams, 17. Wallace (14. Horvat), 10. Twine (20. Greenwood), 7. Hirakawa (3. Pring), 9. Tolaj (23. Ballard) (Formation: 4-2-3-1)
Unused subs: 40. Collins (GK), 4. Randell, 5. Atkinson, 27. Yah
Goals: Tolaj 31’, Knight 56’
Bookings: Cardines 49’, Knight 67’, Dickie 77’
Manager: Michael Skubala
Portsmouth: 1. Schmid (GK), 24. Devlin, 2. Arthur (55. Dia), 6. Shaughnessy, 22. Swanson, 19. Shein (38. Adams), 7. Pack (C) (8. Swift), 11. Kamara, 10. Segečić, 25. Kavuma-McQueen (34. Blair), 9. Bishop (29. Marezi) (Formation: 4-2-3-1)
Unused subs: 31. Bielca (GK), 5. Poole, 27. Bailey, 28. Brooke-Smith
Goals: Marezi 90+5’ (Penalty)
Head coach: John Mourinho
Referee: James Bell
Venue: Ashton Gate
Attendance: 24,134 (including 2,464 Pompey fans)
Be sure to listen back to today's Pompey Live: Extra-Time podcast, on which Jake Smith was joined by Graham Butterworth and Danny Thompson to review the game at Ashton Gate.
Join Jake Smith and 2 more Blues fans on Monday (August 31st) night from 6pm to hear further reaction to this match and a preview of Tuesday's visit of Derby County to Fratton Park.
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