I think this leaves the League/EFL Cup as the only trophy in professional English Football that Pompey haven't won.
The directors need her onside as when Fratton Park is upgraded or if a new site is somehow found in the Portsmouth área for a new stadium.
I am so happy!!!! Put a 30 million tag on Lowe. He is wonderful!! So pleased the butt of some fans scored the winning penalty. Well done Olly and Jamal. You have come a long way since grinding out your earlier careers in non-league football. Can we do a Wembley doublé in May? I suppose what this result proves is that Pompey kept their nerve throughout and will need the same for the play-offs.
I only watched from about the second half of the second half, but I must admit, I did quite enjoy that despite my dislike of the competition. I'm such a hypocrite
I've always said Hawkins reminds me of Andy Carroll - a big bruising nuisance of a forward who makes himself a handful for any defender but not necessarilly one who will score a ton of goals - and I've always liked him, so it's good to see him get that moment today. But for me Matt Clarke was the stand-out Pompey player today. A rock at the center of defence who also caused Sunderland trouble when going forward. Unfortunate to have a hand in both of Sunderland's goals but he couldn't really have stopped that either way. He was a towering presence on the pitch today.
Don't feel guilty Lapras!! Enjoy the feeling that the club are wiinning trophies and are in the limelight again. I feel PFC can enjoy their football now until the end of the regular season and if Barnsley buckle under the pressure, who knows? As for Sunderalnd they have 9 games between now the first weekend in May. If they win all those then fair play to them but I feel they won't. What is surprising me is that the points required for the second promotion spot is going to be in the high 80s at least - 87/88 so Luton need one more win,
It seems that as well as Herman David Norris was at the match today as was Kanu! Big Pompey Dave@davesargent Big Pompey Dave Retweeted Pompey_Tori His real age is 62 Big Pompey Dave added, please log in to view this image Pompey_Tori@Pompey_Tori Only meet the legend #kanu #pompey @davesargent 9:59 AM - 31 Mar 2019 0 replies 0 retweets 1 like
please log in to view this image Jordan CrossVerified account@pn_jordan_cross 1m1 minute ago Jordan Cross Retweeted Ricardo Rocha Lovely words from a man who knows what this club is all about #Pompey Jordan Cross added, Ricardo Rocha@R33Rocha From administration and almost being extinct. From a fans takeover to an excellent take over from Tornante. From hell to a trophy in Wembley today. This is Portsmouth Fc. One city, one club, one family! A very special place where my heart will always cheer for! please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image #PUP 0 replies 0 retweets 3 likes
please log in to view this image bet365Verified account@bet365 2008 - A record attendance of 89,874 fans at the new Wembley. 2019 - An EFL Trophy record attendance of 85,021 at the new Wembley. The common denominator? A Portsmouth Football Club trophy. #pompey please log in to view this image 9:14 AM - 31 Mar 2019
Good to watch a Pompey match live and what a great day to be a supporter. Mind you at half time (1.30am here) I was not holding that opinion and wondering if it was worth missing the sleep. Luckily I stuck with it. It must be said Pompey had a woeful 1st half and will not get away with many wins after 45minutes of being so dominated possession wise. In that period the two centre backs were towers of strength and the two backs were also good. However the best defence is possession of the ball and by this measure it was terrible. Jackett said that he changed a couple of things tactically at half time including telling Pitman not to come so deep, but also attributed the better 2nd half showing to a better attitude. Surely the attitude was correct from the start but something clearly changed. Usually going a goal down is a big negative since playing catch up exposes the defence but on this occasion I think it was a positive since it made Pompey come out of defence - for better or for worse but it turned out to be for better. Naylor did some very good defensive work in the 1st half but virtually played on the edge of the penalty box so was not available to help hold possession in the middle third. Pitman and Close had very ineffectual first halves but it was hard to judge if it was their fault or lack of opportunity with very little clean ball coming to an under staffed mid field from the back defensive line and being out numbered in that part of the field to boot. Bogle was definitely starved of opportunity. Even the hoof ball was inaccurate hoof ball! In the 2nd half Naylor managed to get into the mid field more . Close had an excellent 2nd half. From reading reports and on the evidence of this game it appears that if Close is playing well Pompey are playing well. That is not to say he is always the determinant of how well they are playing but perhaps a symptom. When he is playing well the mid field is ticking. The introduction of the substitutes definitely improved things (particularly Evans) but to be fair Pompey had improved immensely before their introduction. I can only think because both Naylor and Pitman were playing further forward than they had done in the 1st half. I think perhaps Curtis, Lowe and Bogle are all inclined to be 'flair' players -trying to turn up where the opposition does not expect them. Curtis and Lowe certainly work hard and help out defensively but the downside to their 'flair' is that their own players are not always certain were they are. I am not certain three such players can be accommodated in one team. Certainly when Evans and Hawkins came on Pompey appeared to have more structure in possession. All of the above appears to be a little too analytical on a day we should be rejoicing. It is just so rare to see such a turn round in a game. Pompey appeared to me to achieve comparable dominance in the 2nd half (and much of extra time) to Sunderland in the 1st half. Lowe's goal was certainly one to file under rejoice in the memory bank. A superb piece of control, a little luck getting through the challenge, and then great composure lobbing the goalkeeper on the half volley! Overall Clarke would be my man of the match for his great defending (predominantly and crucially in the first half) and bringing the ball out of defence in inspiring manner in the 2nd. Close would be my man of the 2nd half. Burgess was also great in defence. He does, in my opinion over do the hoof ball clearance a little. In the desperate circumstances of the 1st half he could hardly be blamed for that much of the time but tended to persist with the long ball when he had time. All in all a great performance and a great day. I will not comment on the lottery of the penalties. No side deserves to loose that way. However, I do acknowledge a couple of critical and excellent saves by our goalkeeper that kept us in it - one being a penalty! Now to get some sleep.
Regarding Pompey's improved form over the past month, but it has coincided with Curtis being sidelined and Pitman restored to the squad and now starting eleven. Thoughts anyone? And I feel the next big match will be Charlton in the play-off first leg. Can we reverse the results that we have had against them in the regular season?
I rate Pitman. Yes he does miss a few but then this is league 1. More importantly he does score quite a lot too and deserves to be in the team imo.
The big question mark is Bogle. I know he has scored a few, but does he have a 90 minute game under his belt? I would prefer a mobile attack of Pitman, Lowe and Dennis playing a false 9, which would enable anyone in the team to find the space to score - Evans, Close, Curtis, Naylor. After Thompson scored yesterday, I think all our regular outfield players have scored, except maybe Burgess but correct me if I am wrong.
What a game !! The best match and atmosphere, I have seen live since the European tie against AC Milan at Fratton Park a good few years back. Sunderland were brilliant throughout the first half, and thoroughly deserved their 1-0 lead at half time. Pompey came out for the second half a totally different team, thanks to whatever Kenny Jacket said to them during the interval. We attacked the Mackems with desire, energy and flair, and well deserved the lovely headed goal from defender Nathan Thompson into the roof of the net. Both he and Lee Brown got much further forward in the second half supporting our two wingers. Two inspired substitutions from Kenny replacing Omar Bogle and Ronan Curtis with Oli Hawkins and Gareth Evans. Hawkins won everything in the air, and Evans was immense running down the left flank causing Sunderland's defence all kinds of problems. Jamal Lowe's goal was absolutely brilliant. He has such amazing talent and a true eye for goal. His chip over their keeper was exquisite, and should have been enough to win the game. But no, back come Sunderland to score a late equaliser. We were sitting behind the goal and the wall of sound coming from behind us when Jamal scored was deafening !! Five well struck penalties and the save from Craig MacGillivray against Cattermole eventually won us the game and the much coveted () trophy. It is truly a travesty of justice that we will not be playing in Europe next season All in all, a fantastic end-to-end game, magnificent atmosphere, and a great day out for both me and my younger daughter who had never been to Wembley before. EDIT: I meant also to say, well done MAJR for an excellent running commentary
Final Match Stats:- "Home" Team: Portsmouth ....." ""Away" Team: Sunderland Possession: Home 63% Away 37% Shots: Home 18 Away 10 Shots on Target: Home 5 Away 4 Corners: Home 3 Away 7 Fouls: Home 20 Away 18
