PORTSMOUTH 2-0 COVENTRY CITY
City: Murphy (GK), Christie, Edjenguele, Martin, Stewart (Ball 80), Jennings (Wilson 64), Bailey, McSheffrey (Thomas 64), Moussa, Fleck, McDonald. Subs: Dunn (GK), Willis, Bell, J. Clarke.
Portsmouth: Eastwood (GK), Moutaouakil, Gyepes, Rocha, Cooper, Wallace, Ertl (c), Racon, Walker (Malony 91), Connolly, Agyemang (Akinde 91). Subs: Smith (GK), Sodje, Harris, Webster, Butler.
HT PFC 1-0 CCFC FT PFC 2-0 CCFC
ATT 12,601
Goals Jed Wallace 15, Patrick Agyemang 76
Referee P.Gibbs
Booked Walker, Wilson,Rocha
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Coventry City were clearly affected by the events of the last few days as they went down to a 2-0 defeat at bottom of the table Portsmouth with a poor showing.
In snowy conditions and with no clue as to where City will be playing Doncaster, despite both sides putting out a statement which only highlighted how petty the row between ACL and Coventry City Football Club (Holdings) Ltd/SISU has become, the City support set off for the South Coast and a game against a club whose financial misfortunes are as equally well documented.
There was not a snow flake to be seen as we arrived in Hampshire and made our way to Fratton Park to see a City side for only the third time in their history playing without their top three goalscorers at this point in the season.
The mood amongst the City support, which contained a good number of our Southern based supporters, was mixed, especially after reports from the Trust that City will be playing at Walsall on Friday, although police officers have said after the match that the club have told them on Friday that the remaining home matches will be played at the Ricoh Arena.
There was plenty of applause however, as City, in their away kit, took to the pitch with John Fleck in for Carl Baker and Steve Jennings as captain.
City started off reasonably brightly on a bitterly cold afternoon, with Gary McSheffrey sending a third minute free kick at the home keeper and two minutes later, Cody McDonald was shoved to the ground and Mr Gibbs awarded a penalty. Gary McSheffrey stepped up and Eastwood dived to his right and saved easily.
Portsmouth started to attack and in the 15th minute, the ball was not cleared by the City defence and Jed Wallace was able to fire into the roof of the net from eight yards.
Franck Moussa, probably City's Man Of The Match, did well to get in a 25th minute shot and a minute later, Cyrus Christie joined the attack to getting in a shot at Eastwood.
Portsmouth, who were quite happy to time waste if they could not find an opening, had a corner on the half mark and another three minutes later.
At the start of the second half, Christie forced a good save from Eastwood to win a corner and Moussa won a corner following a Bailey shot.
City were not at the races and in a bid to liven up the drab affair, Steven Pressley made a double change bringing on Callium Wilson and Conor Thomas in the 64th minute.
Thomas had a chance straight away and Moussa had a shot deflected for a corner as City started to come back into it.
But in the 76th minute and with the 1079 City fans annoyed by Eastwood's antics which had got Wilson yellow carded, Patrick Agyemang got to a cross from the left and headed in.
Edjenguele had to clear one off the line and Eastwood grabbed from McDonald before five minutes of stoppage time was announced.
Callum Wilson had a shot saved but City were a poor side and deservedly beaten.