PORTSMOUTH v BLACKPOOL NPower Championship, 24 September 2011, at Fratton Park Link to BBC Sport Prieview: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/14957978.stm Last season: N/A Last League meeting at Fratton Park 24 January 1981, Third Division [League One] Porstmouth 3-3 Blackpool Who are Ya? (Some of this information is courtesy of wikipedia) Known by younger supporters as a team of the lower leagues (being in the bottom two divisions between 1978 and 2007), older people will recall their hey day either side of WWII, which included winning the FA Cup in the “Matthews Final” of 1953. They are one of the few sides that have been able to work their way up from the bottom in recent years, having spent the 2000-01 season in the 4th Tier; reaching the Premier League in 2010. Highest League Finish 2nd in First Division [Premier League] 1956 Lowest League Finish 21st in Fourth Division [League Two] 1983 Honours: 1st Tier [Premier League] – Runners Up 1956 2nd Tier [Championship] – Runners Up 1937, 1970. Playoff Winners 2010 3rd Tier [League One] – Playoff Winners 2007 4th Tier [League Two] – Runners Up 1985, Playoff Winners 1992, 2001 FA Cup Winners 1953, Runners Up 1948, 1951 Anglo-Italian Cup Winners 1971 Football League Trophy [now Johnson’s Paint Trophy] Winners 2002, 2004 Yesteryear 13 March 1976 Portsmouth 2-0 Blackpool This was the last meeting between these two sides at this level. A rare win for Pompey gave them hope of staying up, but they would eventually finish bottom of the Second Division, with the Seasiders in mid-table. Blackpool League finish: 5 years ago (2006-07): 3rd in League One (Playoff Winners) 10 years ago (2001-02): 16th in Div 2 [League One] 15 years ago (1996-97): 7th in Div 2 [League One] 20 years ago (1991-92): 4th in Fourth Division [League Two] (Playoff Winners) 25 years ago (1986-87): 9th in Third Division [League One] Random Fact: Blackpool are the only side to have been promoted via the Playoffs from all three divisions of the Football League. Current odds (Thursday Morning) from SkyBet POMPEY: 11/8 BLACKPOOL: 7/4 DRAW: 12/5
Knowing that there are a few 'old hands' on here, I wonder if any of you were actually at either of the above games from 1976 or 1981?
Hi Dev, fraid not. I did go to a league cup match many years ago. Pompey won 4-0 and I recall all the goals being scored in the second half. We went to the fair, before kick off and went on lots of rides. Pre Pepsi big max, or whatever it's known as.
If you're winning, please feel free to sing derisory songs at them, with particular reference to the fact that such a poor team was in the Premier League last season.
Having Kevin Phillips in attack worries me. He is almost as old as Kanu, but he does appear to have the ability to score goals for fun.
