Young Blues beaten at Cheltenham
Pompey Academy lost their second match in succession with a 1-0 defeat at Cheltenham.
The only goal of the game was scored by Jordan Lymn midway through the first half after the Blues defence had been breached down the side.
And the result saw the home side climb above Pompey at the summit of the Youth Alliance League table.
Academy coach Mikey Harris said: “The goal we conceded was disappointing from our point of view – our defending was poor.
“Fair play to Cheltenham because they had a game-plan which they stuck to very well. They sat in and defended deep against us. They got men behind the ball, were very compact and tried to hit us on the counter-attack.
“They did that very well and were unlucky not to score again because they hit the post a couple of times while we were chasing the game in the second half.
“We came out much better after the break and dominated possession throughout, but just lacked that little bit of creativity in the final third.
“We were missing some key senior players, with Alex Bass and Adam May on the bench for the first team – which is fantastic experience for them – and Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain feeling unwell.
“That gave an opportunity for the first years to step up and they need to learn very quickly how difficult the game is when you move from under-16s to under-18s football.
“I’m not disappointed with the lads’ work-rate and on another day it might have been a different result.
“But I felt we could have done a bit better when we got nearer their goal and didn’t quite show what we’re capable of.”
Pompey: Collins; Davies, Saidy, Yates, McDowell; Widdrington, Bedford (Tumber 71); Joseph-Buadi, Bradbury (Scutt 54), Haitham; Sayers (Woodward 54)