Dindane gooly gooly watcha!

Pompey carried on from their Carling cup exploits with a repeat performance against Wigan, thanks mainly to a confidence boosting hat-trick form Dindane, the decision to go 4-4-2, great all round team play and the return of the Fratton drums.

Paul Hart omitted Tommy Smith from his line-up to make way for the two goal man from Wednesday Piquionne, otherwise it was a familar line-up in a different formation, Brown returned from his ban and was rewarded with the armband, as he replaced Mokoena and was up against his old club.

Pompey were straight on the attack from the off, Boateng firing in a warning shot across the bows in the first minute, and even Wilson venturing forward to hammer an effort into the Milton end.
Wigan were never in the contest, Pompey's midfield was all over them if they tried to push forward, and Brown and particularly O'Hara were looking dominant.

On the quarter of an hour, Dindane seemed to harry Boyce off of the ball to go clean through, but although the linesman was happy, Fergie's mate Wiley called it from 25 yards away as a foul.
Pompey were firing in pot-shots aplenty, most were off target though, and those that found the goal were easily fielded by Kirkland.

Rodalegga caused concern when he tumbled over the hoardings into the Fratton end, but after a couple of minutes treatment he was back although moving a bit stiffly.

Dindane headed over a good effort when he should of hit the target, then Piquionne hit a stinging drive that Kirkland could only parry and then gather at the second attempt with Boateng lurking.

Pompey were all over Wigan, but the final ball wasn't there, but then Michael Brown cliped a beauty through the defence for Dindane, one on one he in turn lifted it with the outside of his foot over Kirkland and Pompey had broken the deadlock, and Dindane his duck.

Jason Scotland almost levelled minutes later when he was played through, but his effort flashed wide and Pompey clung on, only for Piquionne to double the lead in first half injury time!
Freddy burst through down the right, he too found himself with just the 'keeper to beat, and he too did just that, firing in past his legs and Fratton was truly rocking.

Second half and you expected wigan to have had a rocket, but it was pompey who almost extended the lead, only Bramble making a great challenge preventing Dindane getting in an effort.

Piquionne ended his day the way he started it, with a bang, only this time it was to his head and he was carried off with concussion for Kanu to come on.

Dindane almost doubled his tally again, his shot deflecting and skidding just wide of Kirkland's right hand post.

But Pompey were to have the rout, a Wigan defender was dispossed on the left, Kanu was fed and he squared it for Dindane to bundle home in fornt of a raptuous Fratton end.

Pompey were playing to the olays now, Belhadj, Boateng and Kanu loving the opportunity to show off the aray of tricks, it was one such mazy run that earned Pompey the fourth, Kanu waltzing round a static defence and being hauled down for Pompey's first spot-kick of the season.
Boateng was talked out of it by Dindane, and he colly slotted home for his 3rd and Pompey's 8th in 2 games, game over good night.

I really should go for Dindane and his hat-trick, but for me it was O'Hara who seemed to win every tackle, and deliver some great crosses.
Will love having games like this, was hardly needed except from one great block in the first half. Best game by a mile, with his fitness returning he is looking like the player he was at Bolton Is there a more composed 21 year old centre back in the Prem? Like Wilson he is really forming a great partnership in the centre. Never looked fit from the ko, day ended early on 40 minutes. Never shone as bright today, but that was more to do with the others raising to his level, rather than his dropping. The big dog on the day Revelled in the captaincy and and drove us on like a pitbull. Another getting better with every game. 3 today and hopefully the start of a goal rush Like Dindane he is off the mark in the league now, need some more though! Replaced Finnan and played a much more mature role, gone were the rash tackles and risky passes, still the crosses and tricks were there! Carried on from midweek, with 20-30 minutes to go is there a better substitute? Paul Hart got it right, 4-4-2 is the way to play teams of similar stature, credit for getting that right and it is paying dividends. 8 goals in 5 days, but is the start of Fortress Fratton returning? Well, not yet, but the portcullis is closing again and the drawbridge has a new pulling system!

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