Super, super win. I have said it before, this team is very. very special and is closer to my heart than many Pompey teams down the years. Comparisons with the 82/83 team are in some instances stark. That team was expensively assembled, and I think cost far more than the current squad. I feel it is down to attitude and the brilliant purchases in the summer, the GK, Brown, Naylor, Curtis, and the on-loan Thompson. I hope he stays for the season, or is bought outright. Add to that Kenny Jackett man-management skills. At the beginning of the season, Lowe set himself a target of 15 goals. If by the end of the season we have three players having scored 15 or more goals, and another one with 10 or more, then I feel promotion will be secured.
Summary 23 games = 51 Next 23? If an average of 1.5 is the return, then that Will yield 35 points giving a final tally of 86. Uum? So to be deprived of the automatic places teams below PFC will need to accumulate over 40 in the second half to overtake PFC. If we can win the next 3, the target would be 26 points from 20 games. Now to put a Price tag of 30 million on Curtis.
Just got home - what a great match, end to end stuff, with a very good Sunderland team playing their part. The best match I have seen all season so far !! The Makem fans helped to create the best atmosphere at Fratton Park this season. First half was fairly equal, but the foul from behind on Oli Hawkins, and the subsequent straight red card for Loovens, and Gareth Evans' powerfully struck penalty turned the game. We "bossed it" for the remainder of the match, and Ronan Curtis (who was my man of the match ahead of Ben Thompson) scored a brilliant goal from an impossible angle. He had an excellent match, and caused Sunderland all sorts of problem, with his running and skillful play. With Luton continuing to win matches, this was an excellent well deserved victory, and the three points take us up to 51 for the season. As Ides says, we must keep this up, and aim for a top two finish, to avoid the pressure of the play-offs.
Match Stats:- Home Team: Portsmouth .......Away Team: Sunderland Possession: Home 57% Away 43% Shots: Home 10 Away 5 Shots on Target: Home 5 Away 1 Corners: Home 4 Away 2 Fouls: Home 15 Away 15
Hey meowth - welcome back A number of people have been asking where you had got to. Hopefully back to stay ?!
Cheating refs have done us this season mate (SAFC), you should have been down to ten as well. We will still go up anyhow. And 19,000 we will have 45,000 on Wed. Never a red card either.
Another great result and 51 points. I've been looking at the points totals for teams coming second for the last three seasons. 8.5 points average, 91 points the median and 96 points the maximum (add one point to win the league) so despite our great half season there is little scope for taking the foot off the pedal. I think the next three games are vital. We are playing middle of the table teams or lower. After playing three of the better teams in a row it may be tempting and fatal to relax a touch but it is a huge chance to press home our advantage. A boxing day win would be particularly sweet with Gillingham being something of a bogey team in the last two seasons. PUP
Calm down Monty - we have all suffered from poor referees this season (you should have been at our recent home match with Charlton ) but Loovens was the "author of his own misfortune" with that shocking foul tackle from behind. He let your team down badly, so blame him for missing your next game in front of 45,000 fans !! Do have a Merry Christmas