Portsmouth confident of ‘big finish’ after Bradford win

Posted Sunday, March 03, 2019 by PA

Portsmouth overcame managerless Bradford and a drone to get their promotion push back on track with a thumping 5-1 victory.

Ben Close scored twice in the second half as Pompey picked up their first league win since New Year’s Day.

The match was halted in the second half and the players ordered to leave the pitch because of a drone flying over Fratton Park.

Pompey assistant manager Joe Gallen said: “Apparently if there is a drone we have to stop but it’s not something I was aware of.

“I used it as a chance to get on the pitch and talk to our players about who was going to pick up who as they just made a change.

“We are delighted with the win. It was thoroughly deserved. Maybe the first 10-15 minutes was close but after that we stepped it up and played some good football.”

Pompey are five points off second place, and Gallen added: “It’s a big confidence booster to get five and it could have been more but we’ll take the five.

“We feel very capable of a very big finish. No matter who you are, you have a dip, and we’ve had ours.

“We are more than capable of going on a run of wins on the bounce and this gives us a confidence lift.”

Former Bradford midfielder Gareth Evans gave a dominant Pompey a deserved lead with a brilliantly-struck 22nd-minute penalty following a foul on Oli Hawkins.

Gallen added: “Maybe we were slightly fortunate with the decision that gave us the penalty but there was a lot of pulling. It was a very good penalty from Gareth.”

Tom Naylor doubled Pompey’s advantage from close range three minutes before half-time.

Hope Akpan got Bradford back in the game in the 64th minute, stabbing home after a goal mouth scramble.

The comeback was short lived as Jamal Lowe bundled in Lee Brown’s cross to make it 3-1.

Close made it four by stretching to divert Gareth Evans wayward half-volley beyond the diving Richard O’Donnell before grabbing his second late on from a Ronan Curtis centre.

Bradford are in crisis after David Hopkin quit as manager and are six points shy of safety.

Bradford caretaker manager Martin Drury said: “They are a very good side. They’ve got players who can hurt you on the break. They’ve got pace, power and quality.

“I changed it to try and get us back in the game at 2-0 down. We got a goal and I thought ‘here we go, we’re back in the game’. Then we get sucker punched straight away.

“I changed it to be a little more attacking. I’ll take responsibility for that. We’re letting in goals. Today they were the sort we should be stopping.

“There’s been a naivety among the players – especially when we are attacking.”