The day started off well, with hopeful apprehension for the first match of the season. A good size crowd in buoyant mood, but oh dear within just 8 minutes all our optimism fell away. Then after another 12 minutes, it was like being in a time warp from last season, we were dreadful, no idea, no shape, no tackling, no chances - just another Sunday league performance. With the crowd starting to get on the players' backs, what amounted to an decent build up ended up with the easiest chance for Shaun Newton to score on his debut - tapping the ball into an empty net from two yards out.

The second half started off much better, suddenly we had a desire to win, we took the game to them and showed them how we can play. If only we could have started like this. Just 12 minutes into the second half we got our equaliser, with a powerful header from the long overdue head of Cedric Roussel. Suddenly the game was ours but, as was so often the case last season we just couldn't finish off a second rate team and the game fizzled out with both teams accepting a draw.

A very nervous performance, with many dodgy referring decisions under some emotional circumstances for Portsmouth and it was nice to see Dave Beasant clear the ball into the top row of the Billy Quiet to a round of applause from the north bank.

Oh for that tough tackling midfielder!!!!!

Match Statistics

Notes: Shaun Newton scored on his debut and Cedric Roussel scored his first competitive goal for Wolves. Mark Kennedy made his first appearance for Wolves.

Attendance: 23,012

Best Player : Newton (4 votes) Lescott (1 vote)