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REPORT: Pompey 3, Millwall 1

Photo Credit: Jason Brown

The Blues returned to winning ways in the Championship following 6 games without victory.

A first half strike from Zak Swanson put Pompey ahead, which was then followed by an own-goal from Tristan Crama in the second 45 and a solo strike by substitute Jordan Williams late on.

There were five changes to the side that lost 3-2 away at Hull City before the international break.

Goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid came straight back in for Joesf Bursik, for the first time since the Austrian keeper injured his hand in the South Coast derby back in September.

Márk Kosznovszky replaced Luke Le Roux in midfield, Zak Swanson came in for Ibane Bowat, Florian Bianchini for Jordan Williams, and Adrain Segečić was in, instead of Conor Chaplin.

Zak Swanson gave the Blues the lead when the ball fell to the full-back from outside the area, where he thumped the ball into the top left-hand corner past Max Crocombe to make it 1-0, 22 minutes gone.

Millwall left-back Zak Sturge had to be stretchered off after he took a nasty whack of the ball to the face from four yards out.

The contact knocked the defender out went the ball came flying at Sturge at high speed, and he was subsequently subbed for Joe Bryan.

HALF-TIME: Portsmouth 1-0 Millwall

Alex Neil’s side did start the second half more positively; however, the Blues took back control of the game and piled the pressure back on The Lions.

The returning Segečić burst down the left flank, where he placed a supposed cross across goal, which took a heavy deflection off Tristan Crama and went down as an own goal, doubling the Blues' lead 51 minutes gone.

Callum Lang was Pompey’s first sub of the afternoon as the number 49 received a loud cheer from the Fratton Faithful as he replaced Segečić just past the hour mark.

Terry Devlin thumped the down the line to Lang, who was then wiped out from a two-footed challenge by Millwall sub Joe Bryan, who was given a straight red card by referee Michael Salisbury, 67 minutes gone.

Millwall did pull a goal back through Aidomo Emakhu’s corner that was headed on by Wes Harding, before Mihailo Ivanović struck the ball past Schmid to make it 2-1, 71 minutes gone.

However, after multiple efforts for a third goal, Pompey managed to kill the game off 89 minutes gone, through substitute Jordan Williams.

Williams sprinted with the ball down the left flank past three grey shirts, before he caressed the ball into the top left-hand corner past Crocombe to make it 3-1 and score his first Portsmouth goal since joining from Barnsley in the summer of 2024.

FULL-TIME: Portsmouth 3-1 Millwall

 

Next up: It will be a midweek trip to South Yorkshire for John Mousinho’s side, who face Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United in a 19:45 kick-off on Wednesday night.

Last season, a Connor Ogilvie equaliser was cancelled out late on by Jesurun Rak-Sakyi.

Winner, which helped at the time the top-two chasing Blades achieve a 2-1 win at Bramall Lane.

The Blades are currently sat 22nd in the Championship table, with United playing in the Steel City Derby against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough tomorrow in a 12:00 kick-off.

 

Portsmouth: 1. Schmid (GK), 22. Swanson, (2. Williams) 4. Knight, 5. Poole, 24. Devlin, 21. Dozzell (7. Pack), 18. Kosznovszky, 11. Bianchini (36. Chaplin), 10. Segečić (49. Lang), 23. Murphy, 9. Bishop (Formation: 4-2-3-1)

Unused subs: 26. Bursik (GK), 8. Swift, 14. Matthews, 16. Le Roux 25. Kirk, 47. Min-hyeok

Goals: Swanson 22’, Crama (own goal) 51’, Williams 89’

Bookings: Poole 45+4’, Swanson 66’

Head coach: John Mousinho

 

Millwall: 15. Crocombe (GK), 2. McNamara (45. Harding) 4. Crama (C), 6. Taylor, 3. Sturge (23. Bryan), 24. De Norre, 49. Mazou-Sacko (16. Kelly) 14. Doughty (22. Emakhu), 7. Ballo (10. Neghli), 17. Langstaff (25. Cundle) 9. Ivanović (Formation: 4-2-3-1)

Unused subs: 13. Benda (GK), 27. Grant, 31. Bangura-Williams

Goals: Ivanović 72’

Bookings: McNamara 45+4’, Bryan (red card) 67’

Head coach: Alex Neil

 

Referee: Michael Salisbury

Venue: Fratton Park

Attendance: 20,423 (including 2,180 Millwall fans)

 

Jake Smith, Kirsty Roxanne and James Wilson were at Fratton Park to provide analysis on the Pompey Live: Extra-Time podcast, which you can replay NOW!

 

For even more reaction to the game, make sure you tune in to The Football Hour on Express FM with Jake Smith and 2 more Blues fans on Monday (November 24th) from 6pm.

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