Portsmouth vs Charlton: A Tense Afternoon of Missed Chances

This was never going to make the highlights reel. One of those tight, nervous afternoons where everyone inside the ground knew a single goal would probably settle it – and both Portsmouth and Charlton played like they knew it too.

Charlton were content to let Pompey have the ball and sit in, waiting for their moments on the break. It made sense. Portsmouth have struggled all season when teams spring forward quickly, and Charlton tried to lean hard on that weakness. Still, it’s not often you see an away side so unconcerned with possession, almost inviting the hosts to try and break them down.

Milli Alli felt the edge of it from the away end. The former loanee took his fair share of stick from the travelling fans, which felt a touch harsh given the useful shift he once put in at Fratton Park. His response on the pitch was mixed. He found space at the far post in the first half, the chance begging to be buried, only to somehow volley wide. Only he will understand how that one got away.

At the other end, Portsmouth at least looked secure. Conor Shaughnessy and Benji Arthur anchored a back line that rarely looked rattled, snuffing out most of what Charlton tried to piece together on the counter.

That defensive platform is a start. But if Pompey are serious about climbing the table, they’ll need to keep that solidity and finally find some spark at the other end.