by Neil Weld
Pompey fell to a narrow defeat against Liverpool in their first home game of the season at the Wellington Sports Ground.
Adam Morgan scored the only goal of the game after 15 minutes to send the visitors back to Merseyside with all three points.
The Blues felt they should have won a penalty after the interval, but instead Jack Maloney was shown a second yellow card – and subsequent red – for diving.
Academy manager Andy Awford said: “Liverpool scored after we gave away possession from a throw in and they broke quickly. That’s disappointing and something we’ll look to work on in training.
“But we competed well and went toe-to-toe with Liverpool – credit to our lads for that.
“It was a bitty first half but we improved with the ball after the break, getting it down and passing it. We created four or five good chances.
“Unfortunately we were on the back end of what I felt were some poor decisions by the referee. We had Jack Maloney sent off for simulation when it should have been a penalty to us.
“That meant we had to play the last 30 minutes with only 10 men but we still created chances and deserved to get something from the game.
“I can’t fault our application and commitment. It would have been nice to get a better result but hopefully that will come against Coventry next week.”
Pompey: Gledhill; Tallack, Webster, Grant, Butler; Colson, Awford (Warren 86), Harris; Wheeler, Higgins (Vine 60); Maloney
Subs not used: Fitzharris, Branford
Liverpool: Stephens; Aylmer, Rafferty, Regan, King (Quirk 56); Dunn, Baio, Lussey; Moli (Sumner 54), Mukendi (Gainford 62); Morgan
Subs not used: Wearing, Wilson