Young Blues win 3-0 in league clash
Pompey continued their impressive start to the season with a convincing 3-0 victory at Oxford.
The young Blues were beaten on penalties by the same opponents in the cup earlier in the week, but were far too strong for them in the league.
They created plenty of chances before finally breaking the deadlock just before the interval.
It was a fine individual strike from skipper Calvin Davies (above), who surged forward down the right and burst into the box before firing home from an acute angle.
Liam Sayers doubled the advantage in the second half when he headed in Brandon Joseph-Buadi’s cross at the near post.
And all three of Pompey’s substitutes then combined to complete the scoring, with Tommy Scutt and Sam Woodward linking well to tee-up Harvey Bradbury.
Academy coach Mikey Harris said: “We created a heap of chances in the first half and Liam showed great movement to get on the end of some crosses.
“Unfortunately, the keeper kept out one of his efforts and the other hit the post. Ousman Saidy also missed an open goal, while Kaleem Haitham and Adam May were both denied by superb saves.
“You’re starting to think that it might be one of those days, but thankfully we got the opener just before half-time.
“I was screaming at Calvin to cross the ball when he got down the right, so he made me look a bit stupid by smashing it into the corner.
“It was much of the same after the break. We continued to dominate and Liam deserved to get on the scoresheet before our three subs did well for the third goal.
“But it wasn’t just our play going forward that impressed me – we were strong all over the pitch.
“Alex Bass produced another excellent display between the sticks. He communicated well with his defence and did well coming for crosses.
“It was an excellent team performance and I was especially pleased with the clean sheet because we were yet to achieve that this season.”
Pompey: Bass; Davies (c), Saidy, Yates, McDowell; Oxlade-Chamberlain, May; Joseph-Buadi (Woodward 76), Bedford (Scutt 61), Haitham; Sayers (Bradbury 70)