Portsmouth 0-0 Millwall: Mihailo Ivanovic ends Pompey's home run

Mihailo Ivanovic of Millwall celebrates scoring at Fratton Park — Image caption,
Mihailo Ivanovic's fourth goal of the season secured all three points for Millwall

Dan George

BBC Sport at Fratton Park

Mihailo Ivanovic's first-half goal and Millwall's admirable defensive performance was enough to beat Portsmouth and keep a clean sheet at Fratton Park.

Ivanovic scored the game's only goal just before half-time with a delightful chipped finish over the onrushing Nicolas Schmid.

It was Ivanovic's fourth goal of the season and moves the Lions up two places to 14th, while Portsmouth remain in 21st and two points above the Championship relegation zone.

Tuesday night's game was a rescheduled match following a postponement in November due to a floodlight failure at Fratton Park.

Portsmouth had won six and drawn one of their previous seven home games, but Alex Neil's side brought that impressive unbeaten run to an end.

It was a competitive opening 15 minutes, but the one big chance fell to the away side.

Millwall countered at pace and a pass was put on a plate for Ra'ees Bangura-Williams in space at the back post.

But he let the ball run across his body and side-footed his shot wide of the right-hand post to the dismay of the Lions fans behind the goal.

Portsmouth responded by carving out a decent chance of their own - Josh Murphy's low cross from the left found Colby Bishop but the striker could not get enough contact on his effort.

The ball rebounded to the onrushing Matt Ritchie but his powerful shot was well blocked by Joe Bryan.

Millwall then took the lead just before half-time with a devastating attacking move, Bangura-Williams slotting a beautiful pass in behind the Pompey defence which Ivanovic latched on to.

As Schmid rushed out to stop him, the Serbia international calmly chipped the ball over the keeper and ran off in celebration as it trickled over the line, with the away fans celebrating jubilantly as the ball nestled in the back of the net.

Portsmouth started the second period with intent and pushed the Millwall defence back deeper into their half.

Murphy caused trouble with his pace and trickery down the left-hand side and created a number of opportunities, with Ritchie heading narrowly wide from one dangerous cross.

Pompey dominated the second half but Millwall's most notable chance in the second period came from Aaron Connolly who curled an effort with his right foot just wide of the post from the edge of the area.

The hosts pushed in the final moments that remained, launching long throws into the box but were unable to find a breakthrough - the best chance a header from Bishop that flew just over the crossbar.

Mihailo Ivanovic places his finish past Portsmouth goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid — Image caption,
Mihailo Ivanovic's goal guided Millwall to back-to-back away wins

Result 'frustrating' for Portsmouth - Mousinho

Portsmouth boss John Mousinho said:

"I think it's frustrating from several points of view. First off, we didn't put the ball in the back of the net after some really good opportunities.

"Then we went a goal down to a side who know how to defend a 1-0 lead really well, which was disappointing because we were in control of the game.

"We should've stopped their goal, we had the ball and were driving towards the box, and then they went and scored.

"After that our keeper didn't have much to do, but we didn't have enough to get back into the game."

Millwall manager Alex Neil told BBC Radio London:

"If we are prepared properly, if the lads put everything into the game, and if we have those moments of quality then our players are certainly capable.

"Everyone knows we are light on players at the moment, but the squad available has been sensational to churn out these last few results.

"The goal was something we spoke about, so it was entirely by design. But the easy bit is planning the tactics, the hard bit is executing it, and the boys have been brilliant.

"My job is to make sure the players know what to do, and then to let them go and play."

Championship Table

On Tuesday 28th January

Skip to table key

Position	Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Goals For	Goals Against	Goal Difference	Points	Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first
1	Leeds United	29	17	9	3	53	19	34	60	Result Win Result Draw Result Draw Result Win Result Win Result Draw
2	Sheffield United	29	18	6	5	40	21	19	58	Result Draw Result Loss Result Win Result Win Result Win Result Loss
3	Burnley	29	15	12	2	36	9	27	57	Result Draw Result Draw Result Win Result Draw Result Win Result Draw
4	Sunderland	29	15	10	4	42	24	18	55	Result Loss Result Win Result Win Result Draw Result Win Result Draw
5	West Bromwich Albion	29	10	14	5	38	25	13	44	Result Draw Result Win Result Draw Result Draw Result Loss Result Win
6	Middlesbrough	29	12	8	9	47	36	11	44	Result Draw Result Win Result Draw Result Loss Result Win Result Loss
7	Blackburn Rovers	29	12	6	11	32	28	4	42	Result Draw Result Loss Result Win Result Loss Result Loss Result Loss
8	Bristol City	29	10	11	8	37	34	3	41	Result Win Result Draw Result Win Result Loss Result Draw Result Win
9	Watford	29	12	5	12	40	41	-1	41	Result Loss Result Loss Result Draw Result Win Result Loss Result Loss
10	Sheffield Wednesday	29	11	8	10	42	45	-3	41	Result Loss Result Win Result Draw Result Loss Result Draw Result Win
11	Norwich City	29	10	9	10	48	42	6	39	Result Draw Result Win Result Win Result Loss Result Loss Result Win
12	Coventry City	29	10	8	11	39	38	1	38	Result Draw Result Draw Result Loss Result Win Result Win Result Win
13	Queens Park Rangers	29	9	11	9	32	37	-5	38	Result Draw Result Win Result Win Result Win Result Win Result Loss
14	Millwall	29	9	10	10	28	26	2	37	Result Loss Result Draw Result Loss Result Draw Result Win Result Win
15	Preston North End	29	8	13	8	32	36	-4	37	Result Win Result Loss Result Draw Result Draw Result Win Result Win
16	Oxford United	29	9	9	11	33	43	-10	36	Result Win Result Draw Result Draw Result Win Result Win Result Draw
17	Swansea City	29	9	7	13	32	40	-8	34	Result Win Result Loss Result Draw Result Loss Result Loss Result Loss
18	Cardiff City	29	7	10	12	33	44	-11	31	Result Draw Result Draw Result Draw Result Win Result Draw Result Win
19	Hull City	29	7	8	14	30	38	-8	29	Result Win Result Loss Result Draw Result Win Result Loss Result Win
20	Stoke City	29	6	11	12	26	36	-10	29	Result Win Result Draw Result Draw Result Draw Result Loss Result Draw
21	Portsmouth	29	7	8	14	36	52	-16	29	Result Loss Result Loss Result Win Result Win Result Loss Result Loss
22	Derby County	29	7	6	16	32	40	-8	27	Result Loss Result Loss Result Loss Result Loss Result Loss Result Loss
23	Luton Town	29	7	5	17	29	48	-19	26	Result Loss Result Loss Result Loss Result Draw Result Loss Result Loss
24	Plymouth Argyle	29	4	10	15	27	62	-35	22	Result Draw Result Draw Result Draw Result Loss Result Loss Result Draw

View latest Championship table

Key

Position 1 - 2 : Promotion
Position 3 - 6 : Promotion Play-off
Position 22 - 24 : Relegation

Sheffield United have been deducted two points for defaulted transfer payments.

Last Updated 28th January 2025 at 21:41

Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made.

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