Portsmouth ended their three-match losing streak but were left frustrated after a goalless draw with Wrexham at Fratton Park. The Blues created numerous chances against the Welsh visitors, only to be denied by inspired goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo.
Josh Murphy proved a constant threat for Portsmouth, making his first start in over seven weeks since the south coast derby in September.
Manager John Mousinho made seven changes from the side heavily beaten at Birmingham on Saturday. Murphy’s inclusion headlined the alterations, whilst Colby Bishop and Conor Chaplin returned to the forward line.
Connor Ogilvie recovered from illness, with Luke Le Roux, Terry Devlin and Josh Knight also coming into the starting eleven. Josef Bursik, Regan Poole, Ibane Bowat and Andre Dozzell were the only players retained in a new 3-4-3 formation.
Jordan Williams, Hayden Matthews, Marlon Pack, John Swift, Minhyeok Yang and Makenzie Kirk dropped to the bench, whilst Márk Kosznovszky was omitted from the squad entirely.
Remembrance commemorations preceded kick-off, with standard bearers leading a procession onto the pitch. Wreaths were laid by both captains, club representatives and a serving member of the military, before a bugler played The Last Post and all present observed a minute’s silence.
Portsmouth started brightly and showed considerable aggression throughout the opening period. Bishop flicked the ball on for Murphy to fire an early shot saved by Okonkwo, whilst Murphy also sent a free-kick over.
Wrexham had the match’s first clear opportunities, with Bursik diving left to palm behind Lewis O’Brien’s shot. From the resulting corner, O’Brien’s cross found Kieffer Moore, but Bursik brilliantly kept out the close-range header.
Portsmouth were forced into an early substitution after Ogilvie, who had suffered an unpunished challenge minutes earlier, went down. Following treatment, he was replaced at left wing-back by Williams.
The hosts increased their tempo with Murphy collecting a quick Devlin throw before advancing and firing narrowly wide. Ben Sheaf responded similarly at the other end as both sides sought the breakthrough.
Portsmouth finished the half strongly. Bishop nearly forced the ball home after Murphy blocked a clearance, whilst Chaplin’s clean strike from Murphy’s cleared corner was deflected over.
Second Half
Portsmouth threatened first after the restart, as Dozzell collected a Williams pass, turned neatly and flashed a shot wide. The Blues maintained pressure on their opponents early in the period.
Devlin’s cross found Murphy in space inside the box, but Issa Kaboré blocked his first attempt and Okonkwo scrambled the second behind. Bishop’s header from the subsequent corner was also blocked before Okonkwo denied Murphy at the near post.
The keeper made an even better stop moments later when Bowat met Murphy’s corner with a powerful header.
Portsmouth owed gratitude to their own goalkeeper on 61 minutes, as Bursik left his line to deny O’Brien after a quick free-kick sent him clear.
The home side continued attacking, with Chaplin sending an opportunistic effort narrowly over. He then saw a goalbound shot blocked by Dan Scarr after Williams won possession high up the pitch.
Mousinho made a substitution on 77 minutes, with Devlin receiving warm applause as Zak Swanson replaced him.
Wrexham appeared content to slow proceedings, whilst Portsmouth pushed for a winner. Murphy had a shot blocked after skipping past challenges in the box, whilst a long-range Chaplin effort was gathered by Okonkwo.
Despite Mousinho’s urgings as time expired, the hosts could not find the breakthrough.
Portsmouth (3-4-3): Bursik; Poole, Knight, Bowat; Devlin (Swanson 77), Le Roux (Pack 90), Dozzell, Ogilvie (Williams 27); Chaplin, Bishop (c), Murphy
Booked: Dozzell, Bishop, Murphy
Subs not used: Killip, Matthews, Swift, Bianchini, Minhyeok, Kirk
Wrexham (3-4-1-2): Okonkwo; Cleworth, Scarr, Hyam (c); Kaboré, Sheaf (Dobson 66), James, Cacace; O’Brien (Thomason 77); Windass (Broadhead 77), Moore (Smith 86)
Booked: Sheaf, Kaboré, Scarr
Subs not used: Burton, Doyle, Barnett, Longman, Hardie
Referee: Robert Madley
Attendance: 19,877 (706 away fans)
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Mousinho: A Positive Response
John Mousinho was delighted to see an assured response from Portsmouth following their weekend defeat at Birmingham, but frustration lingered after managing only a goalless draw with Wrexham at Fratton Park.
Arthur Okonkwo proved the primary obstacle, with the visiting goalkeeper producing several fine saves to preserve a clean sheet. Whilst the result ended a three-match losing run, Mousinho felt his side created sufficient clear-cut opportunities to claim all three points.
“It was a really positive display – particularly in the second half – and we created more than enough to win the game,” the Blues boss said.
“We needed to get the basics right after what happened on Saturday and we did that to give ourselves a foothold. We changed the system to deal with Wrexham’s front three and there were some really good performances from our back five.
“Unfortunately, we couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net and that was the big thing missing from us. There were brilliant saves from their keeper – one from Josh and another from Ibane’s header. On another night we bury those chances.
“It was a combination of him being on top form and times when we quite didn’t test him enough. Josh was a constant threat and you could see that when we got the ball out to him more often in the second half.
“We made the decision to keep him on because it felt like the game was there for us to win and he was able to finish the 90. Overall, we got a positive response. I saw a side who were less naïve, ready to fight and showed some more quality and composure.”
A significant blow for Portsmouth was seeing defender Connor Ogilvie limp from the field midway through the first half.
“He hurt his knee in a challenge that, for some strange reason, wasn’t given as a free-kick,” Mousinho said. “We’ll see how he is, but probably won’t get any news until next week.”
Patience Pays Off for Bowat
A knee injury suffered shortly after arriving on the south coast meant Ibane Bowat’s first season at Portsmouth was completely wiped out.
The defender was delighted to finally make his Fratton Park league debut for the club in a goalless draw against Wrexham. The 23-year-old helped keep a clean sheet against a forward line featuring Kieffer Moore and Josh Windass.
He came close to grabbing a winning goal with a firm header brilliantly saved by Arthur Okonkwo in the second half.
“It’s something I’ve been working towards for a very long time and on a personal note, I’m happy to come in and help the team,” Bowat said.
“I’ve had to be patient and wait for my opportunity, but you always have to be ready when that comes along. It was important for us to come back strongly after a poor performance on Saturday and to keep a clean sheet.
“We had to go back to the drawing board and have worked on a few things to make sure we could put things right. A reaction was crucial – especially at home where the results haven’t been the best – if we were going to bounce back.
“We got the crowd behind us and it was just unfortunate that we couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net. I thought I was going to score and was getting ready to run away and celebrate before the keeper made the save.
“But there are still a lot of positives that we can take from that performance into the next game at the weekend.”
