Report by Ben Davis

So far this season Pompey have struggled away from home, and at home for that matter, and it continued as QPR won by a single goal to condemn the blues to their third successive defeat. The result though could well have been a draw, or even a win, for Pompey had they taken any one of their numerous chances. Yet it was Flahavan who shone again pulling off a series of fine saves to keep his team in it.
Svensson was out injured with a broken bone in his foot so Durnin continued up front. In defence Awford and Waterman returned replacing Turner and Whitbread respectively. However there was still no place for Simpson who instead had a place on the bench.
Pompey wanted to continue where they left off against Forest, as they played well in the second half against the league leaders, and after three minutes they could have gone in front. Igoe latched onto a long ball from the back down the left and put in a cross to the far post where Aloisi headed it back to Hall unmarked. Rangers big centre back Maddix managed to block the first effort and keeper Harper made a good save with his legs from the second.
So far Pompey had snuffed out the threat of Rangers strike duo of Spencer and Sheron although with Aloisi on his own up front for Pompey he lacked the help and he was constantly hurrieded off the ball. The Aussie striker though forced Harper into a another good save when the keeper had to turn Aloisi's shot from 20-yards behind for a corner.
At the other end there were a couple of dangerous moments. Firstly Waterman let Sheron go through but he recovered well to put the striker off. Secondly, Pethick did even better to put Spencer off a the far post after a fine cross by Sinclair. Then after 25 minutes Scottish striker Spencer had a golden opportunity to score from Sheron's pass but his shot rolled inches past the post.
Ranger's had swiftly moved up a gear, despite the loss of their captain, Morrow, who had gone off with a hamstring injury. Pompey managed to survive three successive corners with Perrett getting everything behind a Sheron effort to deflected it behind.
Eventually the intense pressure paid off as Rangers took the lead. Sinclair skilfully cut in from the right and crossed it low into the area where Sheron touched it past Flahavan for Spencer to slide in. That was the worst possible blow Pompey could have taken and like in recent matches they would have to play better in the second half in order to get anything from the game.
An early chance fell to Durnin when some hesitation between Ready and Harper allowed the forward to nipped in-between them but the shot was blocked by Ready. Eight minutes after the break Pompey had a glorious chance to equalise. Aloisi ran at the Ranger's defence and after skipping past two tackles he only had Harper to beat, but amazingly he and Hall both scuffed their efforts allowing Ready to clear.
A quick counter-attack ended with Flahavan making a flying save to keep Sheron's effort out. The Pompey keeper needed to be alert again minutes later when Spencer set up Sheron who was again denied by the youngster. Afterwards Rangers manager said: "The goal keeper made a couple of outstanding saves. He really kept them in it."
Turner and Simpson then came on for Awford and Durnin and the duo didn't take long to settle in with Turner forcing Harper into making a diving save. Russell then had a good chance when the lively Aloisi played him through but his control was poor and the chance went.
Late on in the game Rangers appealed for a penalty when Sinclair went down under Russell's challenge but referee Mark Halsey waved play on. It was too late for Pompey to snatch an equaliser and so they had to settle for another defeat and a win against Reading has to be a must. As said in last weeks Pompey Review, on paper Reading shouldn't be to hard but with Pompey and them in the doldrums anything could happen.