| PORTSMOUTH 3 CITY 4 League Division 1 7th March 1959 attendance 19,919 Scorers Ref L Callaghan |
City Trautmann, Branagan, Sear, Barnes, McTavish, Phoenix, Hannah, Hayes, Fagan, McAdams, Sambrook
Portsmouth Brown, Morrison, Gunter, Carter, Dickinson, Casey, Barnard, Newman, Saunders, Harris, DouganProspects were low with an iniury ravaged Portsmouth side being further hampered by an influenza virus, Basil Hayward the latest victim Pompey Manager Freddie Cox was forced to reshuffle his defence by fielding a young debutant named Willie Morrison and movirig Irishman Tommy Casey to centre-half Pompey were bottom of the league with iust 20 points while Mianchester City were two places above them on 23.
The match that transpired baffled many of the spectators who witnessed “a defeat snatched from the jaws of victory”. Pompey were 2-0 up after half an hour and carried their lead well into the second half. Regular scorers Peter Harris (header from a goalmouth scramble) and Ron Saunders (10 yard punt past Trautmann) settled down a much changed Pompey team.
Pompey goalkeeper Fred Brown had made just one save from Sear throughout the first 45 minutes but had backache in an 8 minute spell in the second half. Sambrook reached a ball which looked as if was going out of play and rolled it past Brown to make it 2-1 on 62 minutes. Gaining conhdence the same player opened up Pompey`s defence two minutes later for Fagan to score unmarked, 2-2 Four minutes later City were ahead. McAdams chased a through ball and let fly with a shot that Brown parried, but the Scot forced it in at the second attempt
From a corner two minutes later Sambrook bounced a ball down for Hayes to turn in past Brown, 4-2 to City Three minutes from the end Ron Saunders headed past Bert Trautmann to redress the balance but Pompey`s defence had lost their grip and it ended in a vital win for Manchester City
RICHARD OWEN WRITING IN THE PORTSMOUTH PROGRAMME 10TH JANUARY 2004
Portsmouth Brown, Morrison, Gunter, Carter, Dickinson, Casey, Barnard, Newman, Saunders, Harris, DouganProspects were low with an iniury ravaged Portsmouth side being further hampered by an influenza virus, Basil Hayward the latest victim Pompey Manager Freddie Cox was forced to reshuffle his defence by fielding a young debutant named Willie Morrison and movirig Irishman Tommy Casey to centre-half Pompey were bottom of the league with iust 20 points while Mianchester City were two places above them on 23.
The match that transpired baffled many of the spectators who witnessed “a defeat snatched from the jaws of victory”. Pompey were 2-0 up after half an hour and carried their lead well into the second half. Regular scorers Peter Harris (header from a goalmouth scramble) and Ron Saunders (10 yard punt past Trautmann) settled down a much changed Pompey team.
Pompey goalkeeper Fred Brown had made just one save from Sear throughout the first 45 minutes but had backache in an 8 minute spell in the second half. Sambrook reached a ball which looked as if was going out of play and rolled it past Brown to make it 2-1 on 62 minutes. Gaining conhdence the same player opened up Pompey`s defence two minutes later for Fagan to score unmarked, 2-2 Four minutes later City were ahead. McAdams chased a through ball and let fly with a shot that Brown parried, but the Scot forced it in at the second attempt
From a corner two minutes later Sambrook bounced a ball down for Hayes to turn in past Brown, 4-2 to City Three minutes from the end Ron Saunders headed past Bert Trautmann to redress the balance but Pompey`s defence had lost their grip and it ended in a vital win for Manchester City
RICHARD OWEN WRITING IN THE PORTSMOUTH PROGRAMME 10TH JANUARY 2004