Unfortunately, only a post match day thread, as I was at the game today, and obviously no other takers Three more points, and now six points clear of 4th placed Stevenage Borough, and only four points behind Plymouth Argyle who are away to leaders Doncaster Rovers tomorrow. They were quite an aggressive side, with plenty of fouls on our players. Lovely first half goal in the 42nd minute by Kyle Bennett, after being sent through by Carl Baker. Second goal from a Kal Naismith header following a neat cross from Conor Chaplin, in the 59th minute. At that point we were firmly in control, and really should have been further ahead, but we let them back into the match with a headed goal by Samuel in the 77th minute. It was then 'squeaky bum time' for the last 13 minutes, as they tried to find an equaliser. We brought on Jack Whatmough in defence, as quite honestly Tom Davies who had replaced the suspended Christian Burgess, looked totally out of his depth for some reason. Kal Naismith was rightly named man of the match. He was excellent yet again.
I was watching the sky sports news channel today as the scores were going on. They kept going to various grounds for updates and one of them was your's. "They were quite an aggressive side with plenty of fouls" is the comment that stands out Woopers. The bloke at your ground giving the feedback said at one point there had been a foul in the box by one of your's on one of theirs and no penalty was given even though it looked nailed on. He commented that if it had been at the other end in front of your home stand it probably would have been given. In other words the Ref bottled it. Those were his words not mine and I have seen nothing of your game at all. That's when you were one up. Was he right? I think he was suggesting "big club" syndrome even in league 2.
Evening sensible - there were two shouts for penalties, one for them, and one for us. Neither of them given. The referee was very good today. He booked three of their players, and none of ours. They committed 17 fouls to our eight. Says it all really !! A big police presence, including a number of Welsh police, who obviously are well aware of their fans behaviour. I expect you're looking forward to Plymouth's game at Doncaster tomorrow
Having looked at the write up on the beeb site I see I was wrong the shout was at 0 - 0 just before you scored. But there is mention of the one against you not given but no mention of the other one you mention and have to say I didn't hear anything said by the reporter bloke either. I have no problem with you or them either getting a penalty or not getting one. If you win then it puts more pressure on 4th rather than us so that's a bonus. All I want is for promotion whether it be one two or three. I suspect you all feel the same pretty much. My view is get the promotion bit done then worry which position it is in. I'm quite looking forward to tomorrow and to be honest I'm not expecting a win. Any result will do no harm for us. A win would be massive with games running out. I'd settle for a point right now if that were possible. A lot of the green tints are making a big deal about this being a 6 pointer to the league winners. Having been disappointed twice in consecutive seasons I really don't give a feck about winning the league. I might raise the bar once the promotion thing is sorted but until then just one more point than 4th place will do. I'll be in the right place watching it, a bar so if it goes wrong badly I can take a bit of medicine to compensate.
Well, other results went our way today. Basically, promotion is ours to lose. Only seven matches left......
I've been saying this for a while now. There are a number of teams that have come out of the pack on various runs this season and none of them have sustained the run. A couple have even had the audacity to make a dash twice. Even yourselves have stuttered along and have been allowed in by Carlisle suddenly turning pants. You have struck your consistency at the right time and have managed to break away from the following pack. I would love to be able to say we have it nailed now given the gap that we have probably just like yourselves on that one. But, I just can't bring myself to allow even a slight smile just yet. I have been bitten so many times before by Argyle failing at the last hurdle. I won't be singing until the fat lady has left the building and it is confirmed.
Another good result. It appears fortunate that Naismith & Bennett were back from injury. A couple of weeks back I was suggesting playing three at the back may be a good system that would allow Whatmough's abilities to be utilised. The Stevenage game put a dent in that idea. Also you need cover for the back three for suspensions/ injuries, as Burgess's suspension has proved, and perhaps Davies in a little lacking. I have also been critical of the 'one up front' policy. However, whatever system has got us this far should be maintained now. It is too late for changes. if we can overcome our difficulties beating much lower teams automatic promotion should be ours. In a strange way now that we are in third spot with 6 points clearance it becomes automatic promotion or nothing since if we slipped down into the playoffs we would be entering them in poor form. I am sure we can clinch 2nd or 3nd spot!!
Five wins from seven will definitely secure promotion, I think 4 will be sufficient for Pompey, 3 for Plymouth and 1 for Doncaster as things stand, unless one of the trailing pack suddenly wins 7 on the spin, which is unlikely as none have managed that feat yet.
Fair statement Lieb tbh....but we do just have to focus on a game at a time. Like Greeny I just want up - don't care what position - I said I'd take 3rd at the start of the season and not changed on that. There are some good sides in this Division - I didn't think we'd leave it at the first attempt for a moment but we really need to do it this year . 17K yesterday is good at Lg 1 or 2...some Champ teams would be happy with that. Just not sure the gates will stay quite so high if we were consigned to another season in the basement.
Agree with that and always looked at it that way myself in our promotion races I haven't checked your run in, what's it like? Also agree about if you have a 5th season in the 4th tier the crowds might start to drop a bit...hopefully it doesn't come to that.
It doesn't matter who you play on the run in. The way the results go in this league you could win them all and also could lose them all no matter who you play. All you need to do is maintain that consistency that has been lacking in previous times. Example of who you play is our game against Dagenham and Redbridge last season when they had already been relegated. We were 3 - 0 down in 20 minutes and never recovered and that was at home. That result cost us automatic promotion. You have struck the right form at the right end of the season. I think you will make it this time and all you get for being champions is a tin cup and lets face it who cares about that. The promotion is the prize. You have to do this one before you can carry on to the next.
Very true greeny, though it's always nice to be playing mistadble teams at this time of year with nothing to play for. Good win for you lot today btw
This is our run in, Liebherr...... Hartlepool United v Portsmouth Sat 1 Apr 15:00 Portsmouth v Yeovil Town Sat 8 Apr 15:00 Portsmouth v Plymouth Argyle Fri 14 Apr 14:30 Notts County v Portsmouth Mon 17 Apr 15:00 Portsmouth v Cambridge United Sat 22 Apr 15:00 Mansfield Town v Portsmouth Sat 29 Apr 15:00 Portsmouth v Cheltenham Town Sat 6 May 17:30
That's not so bad, you could win 6 of those............. In all honesty though on the form books you should win a minimum of 5 of those. Trouble is you already know that the form book isn't worth a diddly squat in league 2 and the ones you would expect to breeze are the ones you don't and the ones you think might be a bit more difficult you do. I had you down for a minimum 4 goals on Saturday without reply and you squeezed a 2 - 1 against a side that looks doomed. Not tempting fate because we have to play them as well yet.
