Pompey see new year in style

Pompey certainly didn't let us down on the return to Fratton, it was arguably our best display under Appleton, 2 goals were certainly not flattering, Watford looked ordinary and nothing like the side that brushed us aside a few weeks ago.

Pompey made 2 changes, Halford and Ward were both banned, so Huseklepp came in on the wing and Ben Haim at right back.

Watford had the first shy at goal, Paerce covering well, then Yeates almosy played in Deeney who was short of his ground.

Pompey then grabbed the game by the proverbials, Huseklepp, Norris and Mullins all had goal bound efforts deflected narrowly wide, then Loach made a stretching save to keep out Kitson.
Pompey were enjoying a flurry of corners with no end result, Kitson blasting over in the last action of the half.

Second half and Kitson had another chance, his header though lacked any real pace or enough angle to duly worry Loach.
Loach saved Watford once more, this time going full length to tip Lawrence's curling drive wide, this time though the corner was to come up trumps. Lawrence and Norris played a quick one, the latter's cross meeting our Hungarian giant's forehead and Loach was finally beaten.

Pompey caried on pressing rather than sitting on their lead, Norris saw another effort saved and Muliins skidded one wide.

Mattock then went on a long run and his shot was only parried by Loach, Lawrence folloed up to nod home only for the lino's flag to cancel it out.

Henderson then made what was to be his only real save, denying Kightly well.

Pompey then went straight back up the other end and the games crucial moment happened, Futacs challenged for a ball outside the Watford box and the 'keeper both flattened Futacs and punched the ball away, which offence he walked for I'm not sure, but Watford were down to 10 and Pompey had the chance to kill them off.
Mullins got the clincher in a matter of minutes, his own attempted volley fell nicely to his other foot, he swept home and it was game over.

Futacs was in the mood for more however, he broke to hit the side netting and then turned his man beautifully and smashed a missile onto the bar, 2-0 it remained and Pompey were off to a winning start for 12.

The match day sponsors obviously enjoyed the hospitality, they went for Henderson who a quiet day of it really, Ben Haim slotted straight back in well and Lawrence aagin showed signs of hitting top form.
But how can you deny Futacs with 2 goals from 2 starts and an all round good performance?

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