I really enjoyed the match, and the effort of the Town players was immense. Michael Chopra gave a good striker's performance - created the goal on his own, and I would be disappointed to see Aaron McLean given his place, on the evidence what I saw - and to be honest living in Peterborough I know what McLean is like when he sulks. Top marks to Patrick Kisnorbo, the last to applaud the Town fans and walk slowly off the pitch, all alone, savouring a fine performance from himself and appreciating the supporters. It was only the fresh legs of especially Agbonlahor which started to run us ragged towards the end. I wasn't sure Edwards was the right third substitute as right back, pushing Hewitt into right midfield, as we needed proper defending at that stage to get to the end with a replay. The referee had a good game, always playing the advantage and helping the flow - his current rating of 5.4 should be surprising. Also he pleased me by not doing a 'Mark Halsey' with the Luke Hyam 'tackle' on Stephen Ireland and produce a second yellow. Ireland was touched, I think, so another ref might have sent Hyam off. I was sitting with Villa fans quite near where NRC spent most of the game, around the half way line, and they and I both thought NRC played well throughout, even one older guy said they'd like him back at the Villa. NRC just played simple balls, yes he got a couple of lucky ricochets to keep the ball when he might have lost it, but I think he played well. Luke Hyam was working very hard and although I do not think he will ever 'make it' as a top player, I think he needs to get fitter (looked out on his feet even before taking a knock down by the Town fans in the corner near the end). By then all three substitutions had been made, although I can see why the manager left him on for the ninety minutes. He needs to get games and get super fit, which is very difficult with no serious reserve team football, and should probably go out on loan for a month or two to get some serious match fitness, then if he does well he should go straight into our team. I cannot really work out whether JET had a good game, didn't see him on the ball that often. Agree with what others have said about Hewitt, Murphy, and the superb move down the left wing, think it was Smith to Cresswell overlapping excellent first time cross to Chopra which could so easily have led to us taking a two goal lead.

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Fun day out. Ticketing disaster from ITFC/AVFC aside.

Was superb the amount of support that Loach received from the Town fans, giving him many choruses of the '..is a Blue' song. Hewitt played well. Reo-Coker didn't. Tough with so many changes, and also with playing 4-5-1.

"Paul Lambert, he's taking you down"

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Somebody get those old reports removed. Confusing me.

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Somebody get those old reports removed. Confusing me.

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Come on twtd sort this site out please?

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Sadly outplayed by Pompey. I still feel we have the players we are just set up with the wrong formation and why does Lambert insist on always starting with 4-3-3, It does not fit the current squad of fit players. Jackson needs a striker up front to play off. I thought our defence looked very shaky today and did not play well. Cornell was probably MOM with Dozzell and Jackson not far behind.

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I never thought I would reach the stage where I cannot be bothered anymore

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No passion or desire and should have been 0-5

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After Portsmouths good start I though we had a decent spell, Dobra and Dozzell showing engine and quality. But after Pompey scored we never looked like getting into the game again, we were so far of the points today. Cornell had a couple of brilliant saves.

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Reading the old reports reminds me of how much fight this club used to have.

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