November 21-30: Still Seventh After A Disappointing Draw With Sunderland
Monday 21: An old face has returned to Fratton Park. Jimmy Nichol, the wing-half who made 383 appearances (including two FA Cup finals) for Pompey between November 1927 and December 1936, has joined the club's coaching and training staff.
Tuesday 22: Installation of Fratton Park's new training floodlights is now complete. A number of powerful lamps mounted on the stand roofs will enable the club's youngsters who are apprenticed to other trades to receive coaching in the evenings.
Wednesday 23: Reg Flewin, Pompey's centre-half and captain, will play his first match since his appendix operation two months ago when he turns out for the Reserves in their Midweek League match against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park tomorrow afternoon.
The Pompey Reserves team to face Crystal Palace tomorrow will be: Leather, Turner, Earl, MacDonald, Flewin, Elder, King, Dawson, Hunt, Henderson, Hepworth.
Crystal Palace Reserves 4, Portsmouth Reserves 4 (Mid Week League)
Friday 25: Pompey have signed Dan Ekner, a 21-year-old Swedish international forward on amateur terms. With injury and illness still stalking Fratton Park the talented youngster will go straight into the side to face Sunderland tomorrow.
Pompey have received clearance from the Swedish Football Association for Dan Ekner to play for them, but they were unable to sign the player on professional terms as that would require a two-year residential qualification.
Dan Ekner will be one of three Pompey players making their first-team debuts tomorrow. He will replace the injured Bert Barlow.
Jimmy Scoular failed a fitness test this morning and will be missing from the Pompey side to face Sunderland. His place at right-half goes to young Jimmy Elder, who has turned in a number of impressive performances for the Reserves this season.
Jimmy Stephen is the third of the Pompey debutants in the side to face Sunderland at Fratton Park tomorrow. The costly full-back, who signed from Bradford Park Avenue, has been granted leave from the RAF and will replace Bill Hindmarsh.
The full Pompey side selected to play against Sunderland tomorrow is: Butler, Stephen, Ferrier, Elder, Spence, Dickinson, Harris, Reid, Ekner, Clarke, Froggatt.
Pompey Reserves are playing Brighton and Hove Albion Reserves at the Goldstone Ground tomorrow. Their team will be: Humpston, Rookes, Mansell, Gunter, Howard, Field, Dawson, Delapenha, Hunt, Barlow, Bennett.
The Pompey "A" team to play Sandown in the Hampshire Senior Cup tomorrow will be: Aslett, Turner, Earl, MacDonald, Rutter, Moody, King, Newman, Wood, Henderson, Henwood.
Saturday 26: It is very dark at Fratton Park for the Pompey v Sunderland game. The referee, Mr S E Law (West Bromwich), is concerned and, having consulted the Football League, has moved kick-off forward by 10 minutes to 2.20pm.
The final whistle has sounded at Fratton Park. It was looking so good for Pompey, but then....
Result: Pompey 2 - 2 Sunderland Pompey scorers: Ike Clarke, Peter Harris. Attendance: 36,707
Pompey threw away yet another precious home point this afternoon when, two-nil up against Sunderland at half-time, they allowed the visitors to come back and grab a share of the spoils after the break.
Jimmy Stephen, Jimmy Elder and Dan Ekner all made their Pompey debuts. The game began ten minutes early due to bad light. Ike Clarke put the Blues ahead in the 20th minute. Peter Harris doubled the advantage four minutes later.
Within three minutes of the start of the second-half Sunderland drew level. First Shackleton, then Broadis found the net, and Pompey were rocked back on their heels.
Pompey fought to regain the lead and Mapson made a fine save from Ekner, but the winning goal wouldn't come, and it was a disappointed crowd of 36,707 that headed off into the gloom.
Pompey's hopes of retaining the League Championship look to be slipping away from them. Tonight they sit seventh in the First Division table, eight points behind leaders Liverpool but only six points ahead of the second relegation place.
Match Summary: Portsmouth 2, Sunderland 2
Pompey Reserves were beaten 4-2 by Brighton Reserves in a game that ended in near-darkness at the Goldstone Ground this afternoon. Bert Barlow and Ron Bennett scored the Pompey goals.
Brighton Reserves 4, Portsmouth Reserves 2
From tonight's Football Mail:
"Sunderland's Second-Half Blitz Wins Point" - by Ranger
"Weakened Reserves Had Tough Game" - by Corinthian
Wednesday 30: Portsmouth Reserves 2, Fulham Reserves 0 (Mid Week League)
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