Report by Ben Davis

With only 10 minutes left Pompey were leading, but under serious pressure. Four minutes later they were losing as their defence cracked to allow Watford the points. Pompey had dominated the first half playing some delightful football and Aloisi's goal will be one to remember. The second half was a complete contrast with Watford constantly keeping an edgy Pompey on the back foot.
Adrian Whitbread was out with a virus so Vlachos took his place in defence alongside Awford and Thomson. New boy Thomas Thorgersen took Pethick's place at right wing-back. Now back from the World Cup, Fitzroy Simpson started at left wing-back replacing Robinson. Ball decided to go with three attackers with Kyzeridis making his debut partnering Aloisi and Durnin. Aaron Flahavan had just recovered to start in goal after missing most of pre-season with a calf strain.
Both sides were looking to get forward as quickly as possible and it was Pompey who had the first chance after 5 minutes. McLoughlin found Durnin out on the left and his cross was headed wide by Aloisi. Greek star Kyzeridis was already getting involved as Mooney fouled him twice in a minute. He then got into a shooting position when Durnin slipped him into the box but fired wide.
In the 12th minute the cross-bar came to Watford's rescue as Pompey applied the pressure on their visitors. Kyzeridis won a corner which initially seemed to be wasted until Simpson picked it up 30-yards out before drilling a rocket which thudered against the bar. Pompey were clearly growing in confidence and Kyerzidis's footwork was totally confusing the Watford defence.
David Hillier then tried to emulate Simpson by also have a go from long range and he wasn't to far away as the ball flashed past Chamberlain's left-hand post. At the other end Aaron Flahavan was having a fairly easy ride as Watford's shooting was extremely wayward to say the least.
Eventually Pompey's good attacking play was rewarded with a fine goal in the 30th minute. The tricky Kyzeridis wriggled past two players before finding Aloisi on the edge of the area. The Aussie cut inside on to his right foot and fired a brilliant shot into the top corner with Chamberlain rooted to his line. Shortly before half-time a Pompey corner paused a panic in the Watford area with Kyzeridis going close with a shot which was blocked.
Pompey were seemingly in total control and looked a good bet to score another goal or two. However, Watford picked up their game and gave Pompey's defence a real stern test.
Six minutes into the half ex-Spurs striker Ronny Rosenthal was denied by a Simpson clearance off the line as Watford pilled forward. The excellent passing in the first half had gone with the ball constantly given away. Kyzeridis looked out of sorts with only Aloisi threatening in attack.
What chances Watford had were woefully wasted with some dreadful shooting as Pompey's defence were somehow managing to hang on. Watford's substitute Bazeley was causing Vlachos several problems down the right and in the 73rd minute his good cross was volley way over by Kennedy.
The surprisingly quiet Kyzeridis was then replaced by Pethick as Ball switched to two in attack. It made little difference with Pompey still at sixes and sevens. The new electronic, but somewhat cheep looking, scoreboard still showed that Pompey were still in the lead with 10 minutes left. That was to quickly change in the next four minutes.
There seemed no danger when Hyde sent a long ball forward towards Pompey's area. The Watford attackers had given it up, but Thomson did them a favour by looping a header embarrassingly over a stranded Flahavan. It was a fluke goal but surely someone should have given the defender a call.
The dangerous Bazeley then screamed down the right surging past Vlachos and Hillier before putting in a cross which Lee headed down past Flahavan. The goal was the signal for many Pompey fans to go home in frustration.
Pompey, though, tried their best to equalise with substitute Soley twice finding himself free in the area but took too long in shooting and was consequently closed down. You could tell how stunned the home fans were at the final whistle of a game which Pompey had started so well.
The plus point will certainly be the first half performance but Alan Ball will need to address the problems which occurred in a very disappointing second.