Oxford 3 Pompey 0: Day to forget brings Blues to earth Saturday, 12th Aug 2017 18:17 by pompey-fans.com staff Pompey have had plenty of afternoons to forget at Oxford and they have another to add to the collection after slipping to a poor 3-0 at the Kassam in their first away game since promotion to League One. The defeat leaves Pompey 13th in League One, one of nine clubs on three points, and is perhaps something of a wake-up call after the euphoria of the opening day win over Rochdale. There were a couple of surprises in the starting line-up as, from last weekend's team, Kal Naismith replaced Conor Chaplin in an attacking role and Adam May came in for Carl Baker in central midfield. Brandon Haunstrup. The first half offered little to write home about for Jackett's men, a Kyle Bennett shot straight at ex-Blues stopper Simon Eastwood at the end of the half perhaps their best opening. By then they should have been behind but Curtis Nelson wasted a golden opportunity when Curtis Nelson put a shot wide after a set-up by another ex-Fratton payroll member Mike Williamson. Oxford got the breakthrough two minutes into the second half. Luke McGee could not hold on to Christian Ribeiro's shot and Wes Thomas - who had a spell at Pompey last time they were in League One - was there to tuck away the loose ball. Conor Chaplin and Carl Baker came on and Pompey certainly had their share of attacking play, but without carving out any genuine chances. And they paid for that when going 2-0 down with eight minutes left, sub Gino van Kessel working himself some space and firing in low past McGee. Oxford got a third in the dying minutes as Josh Ruffels beat McGee. That was harsh because it had not really been a 3-0 sort of game, but few could argue that Pompey deserved anything from this trip up the A34. They'll need to do better when Walsall visit next Saturday, by which time Jackett may have made progress in his efforts to add a midfielder and left-back to his squad. Pompey: McGee; Talbot (Baker 69), Burgess, Whatmough, Haunstrup; May, Rose; Evans, Pitman, Bennett; Naismith (Chaplin 56). Subs not used: Bass, Davies, Close, Main, Kabamba. Referee: Graham Salisbury (Marc Wilson 51) Attendance: 9,510 (1,810 Pompey fans)
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