REPORT: Swansea 2, Pompey 2

Matt Ritchie's first ever Pompey goal not enough as Swansea City recover a half-time deficit to force a draw in South Wales, where both sides squandered late opportunities to win the game.

Portsmouth finally play a game of football again, after back-to-back postponements as the Blues secure a point away at Swansea City in South Wales.

Last weekend's visit to Blackburn Rovers was called off just 4 hours ahead of kick off due to a waterlogged pitch at Ewood Park.

Then Portsmouth's home fixture against Millwall this past Wednesday was abandoned after a power cut turned off the floodlights before the game started, but the decision was made to postpone the game due to concerns for supporters' safety.

However, after a three-week break since their last championship fixture, which was a home win to Preston, John Mousinho’s side returned to action at the Swansea.com Stadium.

First half goals from Matt Ritchie and ex Cardiff man Josh Murphy gave the blues the lead, but Connor Ogilvie’s own goal sent the teams in at 2-1 to Pompey at half-time.

Welsh international Liam Cullen found Swansea's leveller just moments into the second half after the finished off Myles Peart-Harris ball into the box.

Mousinho’s side still sit rock bottom of the Championship, just four points from safety away from Plymouth Argyle who sit twenty first on seventeen points.

The Blues have had a slight disadvantage compared to those above them, as due to the last two fixtures being postponed, they have played two games fewer than QPR and Hull in the bottom three. 

Swansea sported their traditional all white home strip, whilst Pompey changed to their black and mint green horizontal stripes, with black shorts and black socks.

Thirty-two minutes in, Murphy swivelled past City right back Josh Key, before finding Matt Ritchie in the area who poked the ball home to make it one nil to the visitors.

Then just seconds before half time, Ben Cabango’s overhead clearance was too short, as it landed to the feet of Murphy, who then flicked the ball over the Welsh International’s head and volleyed it past Lawrence Vigouroux to make it two nil to the blues on forty-four minutes.

Then just one minute later, Liam Cullen in acres of space whipped the ball into the penalty area, aiming for the ex-Blues loanee Peart-Harris however, it was Connor Ogilvie who put the ball in for the Swansea winger, clinging one back for Luke Williams' side on the stroke of half-time.

Half-Time: Swansea 1, Pompey 2

Swansea continued to pile on the pressure into the early stages of the first half, and that pressure was rewarded when the completely unmarked Cullen slotted home Peart-Harris cross to score the equalizer for the Swans to make it two-two.

Williams’ side had a chance to take the lead on seventy-nine minutes when Cullen from close-range had his effort denied by Nicholas Schmid, who made an unbelievable reflex save to keep the score level.

With two minutes from time Ogilvie was urging to redeem himself for his first half mistake, but his cross was failed to be put away by the substitute Christian Saydee, who left the chance with his head in hands not knowing how he failed to win it for Pompey.

Full-Time: Swansea 2, Pompey 2

Swansea City: 22. Vigouroux (GK), 14. Tymon, 6. Darling, 5. Cabango, 2. Key, 35. Ronald (47. Abdulai), 7. Allen (10. Ji-Sung Eom) 8. Grimes (C), 25. Peart-Harris, 20. Cullen, 9. Vipotnik (19. Bianchini)

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Manager: Luke Williams

Unused Subs: 33. McLaughlin (GK), 4. Fulton, 17. Franco, 21. Tjoe a On, 23. Christie, 26. Naughton

Goals: Ogilvie (OG) 46’ Cullen 54’

Bookings: Cabango 9’ (yellow), Cullen 36’ (yellow)

Portsmouth: 13. Schmid (GK), 3. Ogilvie, 7. Pack (C), 5. Poole, 24. Devlin, 30. Ritchie (29. Blair), 8. Potts, 23. Murphy (32. Lane), 49. Lang, 9. Bishop (11. O’Mahony) (15. Saydee)

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Manager: John Mousinho

Unused Subs: 31. Archer (GK), 16. McIntyre, 17. Moxon, 18. Sorensen, 25. Kamara

Goals: Ritchie 25’ Murphy 45’

Bookings: Pack 1’ (yellow), Ritchie 35’ (yellow), Blair 72’ (yellow)

Referee: Will Finnie

Venue: Swansea.com Stadium

Attendance: 15,404

Jake Smith will be back with 2 more Blues fans on Monday (2nd December) evening from 6pm to review today's game on the next instalment of The Football Hour, sponsored by StageCoach South.