PORTSMOUTH v BARNET Carling Cup Round One, Tuesday 9 August at Fratton Park. These two sides meet for the first time since the FA Cup 3rd Round in 1991, when Pompey won 5-0 against then non-league Barnet. Who are Ya? As a league side Barnet have spent all but one season in the 4th tier. They were promoted in 1993 but finished bottom of Division Two (League One) the following season. The joy of winning the Conference in 1991 was replaced by pain ten years later when they were relegated back to non-leagueâs top tier. Their absence from the league lasted for four seasons before winning the Conference again in 2005. Honours: Football Conference Winners 1990-91, 2004-05 FA Trophy Runners up 1971-72 Southern League Division One Winners 1965-66 Southern League Division One South Winners 1976-77 Southern League Cup Winners: 1971-72, Runners up: 1966-67 Yesteryear 15 January 1991, FA Cup Round Three. Barnet 0-5 Pompey. The only competitive fixture to date between the two sides ended in disappointment for the Bees, but they went on to win the Conference that season and gain promotion to the Fourth Division. Random Fact: Barnetâs first two games as a league side yielded 21 goals! A 4-7 league defeat by Crewe Alexandra was followed by a 5-5 draw with Brentford in the League Cup First Round First Leg. Current odds (9am Monday) from SkyBet Pompey: 4/9 Barnet: 6/1 Draw: 100/30
Poor performance but were not the only team champ team to go out to lower league opposition; Barnsley, Coventry, Hull, Ipswich and Derby all out. Early days in the season though, I still reckon we'll finish somewhere higher than last season and on average, since the opening of the new Wembley, we should make th Fa cup quaters. P.S Yes I know thats not how the fa cup works.
Listening to the Barnet commentary this evening (can't get Pompey commentary) I had an awful sense of deja vous. Not getting going in the first half, coming out brighter in the second half (usually after a rollicking from SC), too many yellow cards, but this time the team has 5 new players so what hasn't changed? Oh well at least we aren't the only championship side out - and of course our nearest and dearest neighbours can have a good gloating session. (As if they would!)
