OXFORD United lacked creativity or a spark for large periods as they fell to their first home defeat under Gary Rowett.
Andre Dozzell and Mark O’Mahony netted at either end of the second half for Portsmouth, who moved to two points behind the U’s.
In failing to score again, United have now managed just one goal in their last five games.
Finding the back of the net has become a problem for the U’s as we look at the key talking points from the Pompey defeat.
READ ALSO: Our player ratings after glum defeat to Pompey
United sluggish in attack
From right to left, Rowett opted with Przemyslaw Placheta, Ruben Rodrigues and Siriki Dembele as his three attacking players behind Mark Harris up front.
Placheta looked sharp in the very early stages against Pompey, but quickly faded, while Dembele on the other side was guilty of holding onto the ball for too long and then being stolen of possession.
Rodrigues failed to grasp the game and provide the attacking impetus required, while Harris was one of a number of players who gave the ball away too easily.
It was a poor afternoon generally for the U’s, but particularly in the final third.
Substitutes inject a spark
United improved when Rowett changed three of his four attackers midway through the second half.
Rodrigues, Dembele and Harris made way, with Tyler Goodrham, Stan Mills and Ole Romeny introduced.
The latter two in particular provided a threat at last for the U’s.
Soon after coming on, Romeny swung an excellent pass across from deep on the right-hand side, looking to pick out Placheta at the back post, however Pompey goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid was quick off his line to thwart the Polish winger.
Mills then scuffed a chance after Cameron Brannagan played an inventive ball into the penalty area, but put that behind him to produce a wonderful cross from which Matt Phillips crashed a header over the crossbar from inside the six-yard box.
It was Mills’ second substitute appearance since rejoining United on a permanent basis, while Romeny has come off the bench on four occasions following his move from FC Utrecht last month.
There are factors to consider for both – Mills has had a lengthy injury lay-off and Romeny is adjusting to English football – but from the evidence against Pompey, surely both players must be in serious contention to start at West Bromwich Albion.
Left back puzzle
It was interesting to see when Greg Leigh was forced off in first half stoppage time that Sam Long replaced him in a direct switch.
The expectation was probably that Ciaron Brown would’ve shuffled across to left back, with Long at centre half.
Joe Bennett has been back in training for the last couple of weeks, so it should be an easy fix for West Brom if Leigh is out.