December 26-31: A Good Christmas Present As Three Games In Six Days Result In Two Wins And A Draw
Monday 26: For their match against Charlton Athletic at The Valley this afternoon Pompey make one change to the team that lost at Blackpool on Christmas Eve. Lindy Delapenha is recalled; Duggie Reid makes way.
The full Pompey side to face Charlton Athletic at the Valley this afternoon is: Butler, Hindmarsh, Ferrier, Scoular, Flewin, Dickinson, Harris, Delapenha, Clarke, Phillips, Froggatt.
Pompey Reserves play Tottenham Hotspur Reserves at Fratton Park this afternoon. Kick-off is a 2.15pm.
A strike by drivers of electric trains led to the last-minute cancellation of the "football special" from Portsmouth Harbour this morning. British Railways staff are now dealing with refund requests from more than 700 Pompey supporters.
We are less than an hour away from kick-off in Pompey's important match against Charlton Athletic at The Valley. The match is the first part of the festive "double header". Charlton visit Fratton Park tomorrow.
Pompey put their Christmas Eve defeat behind them to collect an impressive 2-1 victory at Charlton Athletic this afternoon.
Pompey supporters roared their approval when Len Phillips put their side in front three minutes before half-time, giving Charlton goalkeeper Bartram no chance with his shot.
The Blues increased their advantage in the 62nd minute when a corner kick by Jack Froggatt swung directly into the Charlton net.
For a time Pompey threatened to run riot, but Charlton held firm and a late revival saw them pull a goal back through Vaughan.
Pompey will now be looking to complete the double over Charlton when the south Londoners visit Fratton Park tomorrow afternoon.
Match Summary: Charlton Athletic 1, Portsmouth 2
Pompey Reserves drew 0-0 with Tottenham Hotspur Reserves at Fratton Park this afternoon. The match kicked off 20 minutes late because the visitors had to make a last-minute dash south by coach after drivers of electric trains went on strike.
Portsmouth Reserves 0, Tottenham Hotspur Reserves 0
Tuesday 27: Pompey will rely on the same team that won at The Valley yesterday when Charlton Athletic visit Fratton Park for the return fixture this afternoon. Kick-off is at 2.15pm.
The full Pompey line-up for the match against Charlton this afternoon is: Butler, Hindmarsh, Ferrier, Scoular, Flewin, Dickinson, Harris, Delapenha, Clarke, Phillips, Froggatt.
The final whistle has sounded at Fratton Park and Pompey have completed a festive "double".
Result: Pompey 1 - 0 Charlton Athletic Pompey goalscorer: Peter Harris Attendance: 43,650
Pompey did just enough to complete the "double" over Charlton Athletic at Fratton Park this afternoon, but three matches in four days took their toll on both teams and the match lacked sparkle.
The winning goal came on 49 minutes when Len Phillips, Jack Froggatt and Ike Clarke worked a move that ended with Peter Harris heading past Charlton ‘keeper Bartram.
Pompey can look back on a satisfactory Christmas. Four points out of six from their three matches (two of them away) keeps the pressure on the clubs above them in the table.
Pompey's final fixture of 1949 is on New Year' Eve when Middlesbrough visit Fratton Park.
Match Summary: Portsmouth 1, Charlton Athletic 0
Pompey Reserves drew 2-2 with Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic Reserves at Dean Court this afternoon. The visitors were two goals down with 20 minutes of the match remaining, but a couple of goals from Duggie Reid earned Pompey a point.
Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic Reserves 2, Portsmouth Reserves 2
Wednesday 28: Aggregate attendance at Football League matches yesterday totalled 1,279,470 - an all time record. The full programme of 44 matches attracted an average of 29,079. At Fratton Park 43,650 saw Pompey's 1-0 win against Charlton Athletic.
Three clubs in the Second Division - Sheffield United, Hull City and Leeds United - had gates of over 45,000 at yesterday's matches.
All of the Third Division (South) games bar one saw five figure gates yesterday. At Nottingham Forest 31,844 watched the match against Norwich City.
Yesterday's Third Division (North) had 6 matches with five-figure attedances, two over 20,000. New league-leaders Doncaster Rovers drew with New Brighton in front of 23,381. Both Southport and Tranmere Rovers saw their largest gates of the season.
"A Step Up For The Champions" - from this morning's papers.
Friday 30: No changes are expected to the Pompey side to face improving Middlesbrough at Fratton Park tomorrow. Manager Mr Bob Jackson will name the side that picked-up maximum points from the festive double-header against Charlton Athletic.
The Pompey side to face Middesbrough tomorrow is therefore likely to be: Butler, Hindmarsh, Ferrier, Scoular, Flewin, Dickinson, Harris, Delapenha, Clarke, Phillips, Froggatt.
With the Combination League fixtures now on hold for three months Pompey Reserves today start a series of 14 Combination Cup games with a visit to The Dell to face Saints Reserves.
There will be an interesting addition to the the Pompey Reserves side this afternoon. John Atyeo, a 17-year-old Westbury Grammar School boy who signed amateur forms this week, will lead the attack.
The full Pompey Reserves line-up to face Saints Reserves at The Dell this afternoon will be: Leather, Rookes, Stephen, Cairney, Spence, Beale, King, Reid, Atyeo, Pickett, Parker.
Saturday 31: The crowd is gathering at Fratton Park for this afternoon's Portsmouth v Middlesbrough match but Mr Sidney Leverett will be missing from his usual seat in the directors' box. Unfortunately he is on the sick list and has been taken to hospital.
The final whistle has sounded at Fratton Park. Pompey and Middlesbrough have shared the spoils in the last game of the decade.
Result: Pompey 1-1 Middlesbrough Pompey goalscorer: Jack Froggatt Attendance: 33,364
Pompey started brightly in their important match against Middlesbrough this afternoon. Ugolini, the visitors' 'keeper pulled off a number of fine saves, but at the other end there was a scare when McCrae crashed a shot against the crossbar.
Two minutes into the second half Ugolini dived at Ike Clarke's feet and, as the ball ran loose, Jack Froggatt fired it into the roof of the net to put Pompey ahead.
Middlesbrough equalised on 61 minutes when McKennan, looking yards offside, sent the ball over Pompey 'keeper Ernie Butler.
Attention now switches to the FA Cup and that elusive "double". Mr D Lockhead, manager of Norwich City (Pompey's third-round opponents), was on a spying mission at Fratton Park today.
Match Summary: Portsmouth 1, Middlesbrough 1
Pompey Reserves' hopes of a winning start to their Combination Cup campaign were sunk without trace at The Dell this afternoon. Saints Reserves scored four times in 17 minutes first-half minutes and went on to win 5-0.
Match Summary: Southampton Reserves 5, Portsmouth Reserves 0
"Poor Marksmanship Costs Portsmouth A Point" - From tonight's Football Mail
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