The buzz wasn’t there. It wasn’t impacted by the lads on the pitch, it wasn’t there in the build up, it just wasn’t right.
People weren’t as excited for this match as they were for the Checkatrade, there was a shift after that game and it was noticeable.
Hard as you try a failure, even in a tinpot trophy, is a kick in the bollocks, and it felt as if some, many, had lost the wind from their sales at that point.
The crowd was smaller for the home Pompey game, but more boisterous and supportive. I think they may well be the crowds we see next year, 22-26k, of folk who will go regardless.
A lot of people ‘thought we could win’, I didn’t speak to anyone fully confident that we would.
It’s all been a bit weird since March, this wasn’t just on the day, and it certainly isn’t something Charlie should be alluding to. Blind faith simply doesn’t exist in football anymore.