A goalless draw on the south coast for Daniel Stendel’s Reds.
Adam Davies walks away the ‘hero’ in a top of the table encounter at Fratton Park. The skipper saved a second half penalty from Omar Bogle, as well as making multiple other saves and clearances when needed.
Reds had chances at the other end, the best coming from Jacob Brown who hit the crossbar off an Alex Mowatt corner, but no goals were forthcoming in an even match.
The first half began with the Reds on the front foot. The returning Mamadou Thiam, who came back into the starting XI in place of Ryan Hedges, was linking up well with his fellow teammates and trying to create.
Neither team could muster up much of note, except for long range efforts, but when a big chance did come, Davies was at the ready. A slip up in the Reds’ defence allowed Pompey to break forward, the ball was slid left to Solomon-Otabor who had the whole goal to aim for, but Davies stood tall and denied him.
Prior to half-time, plenty of corners were the only source of attempted efforts. Neither team could take advantage of the set-pieces, so we went in level.
Half Time: Portsmouth 0-0 Barnsley
The second half began with Pompey on the front-foot. The powerful presence in attack of Bogle and the pace on the wings were seeing the home side get some joy. After Davies saved well from a looping corner, he was to be called into action again from the penalty spot.
The previously mentioned Solomon-Otabor got in behind Dimitri Cavaré, only for the full-back to jump in and foul his man. Initial suspicions were that the contact came outside the box, but the referee had no doubt and awarded the spot-kick. Bogle stepped up to take, but yet again, the Reds’ captain and number one dived the right way and kept his effort out.
The next best chances then came the way of Daniel Stendel’s side. Dani Pinillos was free on the left-side of the box but smashed his effort over the bar, before a late corner from Mowatt found Jacob Brown but his header was deflected on the bar.
The near-on 2,000 travelling Reds in the away end sang until they had departed the ground, well after the final whistle and the choice of song was mainly directed at the skipper.
Full Time: Portsmouth 0-0 Barnsley
Davies, Cavaré, Pinnock, Lindsay, Pinillos, Brown, Mowatt, McGeehan (Dougall), Bähre (Adeboyejo), Thiam (Hedges), Woodrow.
