Report by Ben Davis

Pompey fell to another defeat in this televised game and despite their constant battling a defeat always looked on the cards. Why? They simply lacked that killer touch up front. John Aloisi looked threatening throughout the match but needed somebody else to back him up. Wolves weren't anything great and on this performance they will be easily beaten by Arsenal in the FA Cup Semi-Final.
Paul Hall retained his place, but Michalis Vlachos was out injured with an ankle injury suffered at Sunderland last week. Fitzroy Simpson took his place with Aloisi taking David Waterman's. Wolves included their new deadline day deals: Neil Emblem, Stephen Wright, Robbie Slater and most ironic off all, Steve Claridge. Pompey tried so desperately to sign the fans favourite, but couldn't get a deal sorted and Wolves stole in to get him. Claridge even had dinner and breakfast with the Pompey players before the game.
Once again Pompey's fans were giving their endless vocal support, but this time it was accompanied by protest banners aimed at Martin Gregory's refusal to sell the club and accept Vince Wolanin's offer for Claridge earlier in the week.
Wolves started the brighter with the former Southampton winger Slater causing a few problems for Pethick. Pompey's defence though was dealing well with what was being thrown at them. At the other end Hall and Aloisi looked to take advantage of a slightly sleeply Wolves defence. The Aussie striker won Pompey's first corner when he turned his marker and his shot was charged down by Curle. The home side cleared that without too much trouble.
Fitzroy Simpson was hoping to impress Ball with a starting place and he wasn't doing his chances of a regular place no harm with a fine performance in midfield. However, it was Andy Awford who was getting the accolades from the Sky TV commentators. He seemed to be everywhere making superb interceptions when Wolves looked like getting through.
In the 20th minute Wolves had the ball over the goal line when Slater bumped Flahavan in the goal after the keeper had caught a cross. It was obviously disallowed but Whitbread was unimpressed by the challenge and push the winger to the floor. For that action he was consequently booked although had the referee been a little more stricter he may well have been sent off.
Pompey's first effort on goal came shortly afterwards when Hillier's powerful 25-yarder whistled over Segers cross-bar. Yet it was Wolves who created the best chance of the half when Goodman's return pass to Slater released the winger into the area. He looked odds on the score but Awford came from no where to put him off and the shot went wide. The Sky TV commentator then said that Awford was his Man-of-the-Match already.
All the good defensive work done throughout the half was then thrown away a minute before the break. Froggatt chipped in a corner to the far post where Goodman rose well to head past Flahavan. The keeper perhaps should have done better though as he let the ball bounce through his out-stretched arms.
Wolves started the second half slowly with Pompey making most of the running. Pompey though were still lacking that finishing touch and couldn't quite break down the Wolves defensive duo of Curle and Williams. John Aloisi thought he should have had a penalty when he was tripped by Curle in the area. However, the referee saw it totally different and booked the striker for diving.
Alan Ball made a change when he brought on John Durnin for Simpson. The lively forward immediately posed the Wolves defence problems and forced Segers into a save when his low curler from the edge of the box was claimed by the keeper. In an attempt to liven up his side, Mark McGhee brought on the old war-horse Steve Bull as Goodman went off. The home fans were now looking to see how Bull and Claridge got on.
The Pompey managed threw his last roll of the dice by bringing on Svensson and Allen for Hall and McLoughlin. Svensson put himself about from the off with Allen taking control in midfield. Pompey then went so close to equalising when the Wolves defence backed off allowing Aloisi time to size up a shot which flew inches past Segers right-hand post.
The Wolves keeper needed to be alert moments later when Allen tried to catch him out from 20-yards, but Segers got down to claw the ball off the line. All this attacking though suddenly let Wolves in with a chance to seal the game. Claridge could have dumped his former team-mates had he not fired horribly over from 6-yards. The Pompey fans will no doubt say that he was doing his bit to keep the club in the division.
The game though was settled in the 90th minute as Wolves scored a fine second goal. Osborn played a one-two with Claridge before brilliantly chipping Flahavan from 20-yards. The keeper wasn't all the much off his line but the ball was placed perfectly to beat him.
After the game Ball described the performance as the worst he's seen since being in charge. That in my view was a little harsh as Pompey put in a lot of effort, but it was just the attacking side of the game which let them down. Special praise must go to the fans who showed the rest of the country watching on TV the level of noise that they can generate.