It's great defending from Maksym Talovierov whose height allows him to cut out a free-kick from Marlon Pack which was hurtling towards Regan Poole at the back post.

It's Talovierov's first start for Stoke today and the Ukrainian is proving a useful asset.

But now the visitors need to get out of their own half.

Perhaps understandably, given the state of play, and the fact it's a third game in a week for most of these players, the intensity is starting to drop a little in the past few minutes.

Coventry are bossing possession and the Hornets dropping deep and defending doggedly, trying to prevent any further damage.

Albion's Ousmane Diakite gets the ball but ends up digging his studs into the ankle of Chuba Akpom.

Akpom needs some treatment and he's looking rather annoyed that the Baggies man has received no punishment.

It's wave after wave after wave of attacks from Portsmouth, as they batter the Stoke defence, but they're standing firm.

One has to think they will eventually break through, though.

Not sure why they didn't do this at half-time, as he doesn't appear to have a knock, but Luke Woolfenden is coming on for City, with Bobby Thomas making way in a like-for-like switch at the back.

Maybe a change of formation incoming, we'll see.

Mick Mills
Former Ipswich and England captain on BBC Radio Suffolk

I have been looking at Ousmane Diakite, he is brilliant at winning the ball back in the midfield.

But when it comes to using it, he can't.

West Bromwich Albion pick up possession in the final third and Isaac Price loops a ball deep into the box.

Too deep though. His teammate scrambles backwards to keep it alive but Ipswich easily deal with it.

That's probably the most excitement we've had so far this half...

Hector Kyprianou lofts a ball over the top of the City defence for the tireless Mamadou Doumbia who is onside, but he can't quite rise enough to bring the high ball under his spell and it bounces through to Carl Rushworth.

Another glimmer of hope for the visitors at least. Second half has started as open as the first ended, happily for the neutrals among us. Watford have kept three players in attack, to their eternal credit.

INCREDIBLE!

Portsmouth get themselves a corner which is dinked onto the head of Marlon Park, who plays it into the six-yard box.

There's a goalmouth scramble with multiple chances for Pompey to poke it home, but Ben Wilmot puts his body on the line for Stoke several times, and his side clear it out...somehow.

Potters' fans are celebrating like they've scored.

Edo Kayembe has been withdrawn at the start of the second half by Javi Gracia, with Hector Kyprianou coming on to try and shore up the Hornets midfield. Big ask.

Are you sitting down?

Coventry have a goal difference of +26 after 11.5 games of the season - that's double every other side in the 92. (MK Dons are +13 in League Two).

What might it be an hour from now?

We're back underway at Fratton Park and it doesn't look like either manager has opted for changes.

Hopefully we don't get a repeat of the first half...

Had your half-time orange slice? Good.

We go again... (except at the CBS when we have a couple more minutes to wait).

Watford have dominated almost every statistic in this game, possession, corners, shots, except the one that matters the most...

Image source, Opta

Image source, Opta

Steve Ogrizovic
Ex-Coventry City goalkeeper on BBC CWR

Watford looked like Real Madrid going forward, and the Dog and Duck defensively.

Watford have had numerous chances and Carl Rushworth has kept Coventry in the game at times, with four brilliant saves.

Coventry have scored three goals and could of had more, and Watford are now down to 10 men - so it will be difficult for them.

I am not sure how much I would have paid to watch that half, but it was an incredible half of football.

Image source, Shutterstock

The score is a fair reflection of the quality of the match so far as both Portsmouth and Stoke show very little proof they deserve to be ahead.

Stoke started the brighter of the pair with Ashley Phillips twice going close from the corner spot.

But as Portsmouth grew into the game Makenzie Kirk was the most dangerous for John Mousinho’s side.

The golden chance came as he was played through one-on-one with the goalkeeper, only to send a chipped shot sailing over the crossbar.

We need a spark to get this thing going.

Image source, Shutterstock

One of the most bonkers halves of football you'll ever see is at an end.

Watford might have been 1-0 up after two minutes, instead they were 2-0 down after seven with Brandom Thomas-Asante's glancing header for his ninth of the season followed by Jamie Allen's thumping first of the campaign after a long-throw dropped to him.

The Hornets have spurned a glut of golden chances, with Carl Rushworth making a string of saves one-on-one from Rocco Vata in particular, and it's the unbeaten table-toppers who have added a third goal through Tatsuhiro Sakamoto and they will play the second half against 10 men after James Abankwah's late red card for a professional foul.

15 minutes is not enough time to get over the mayhem, if we're honest.