Conference trucks::football;1

    
    Well, this note looks like a waste of a few blocks.
    
    Anyone got a report on Saturday's game at Newcastle?
    
    Tim

	Apparently Pompey blew any chances they had of promotion by losing 
	at home to Brighton (3-2) on Wednesday.......

	They're also having problems with their proposed 'new' stand,
	apparently the council are giving them a bit of grief...


				Al.

    
    	Not quite right, Al, but the same nett effect..
    
    	Pompey lost 2-1 at Brighton. Best entertainment of the night
    	was watching Kuhl and Raphael Meade trying to hit each other
    	with their handbags....the ref made the pair of them an offer 
    	to continue it off the pitch, which they both accepted...
    
    	Pompey had a few early chances but were then awful. Brighton
    	played quite well and could yet stay up on that form..Pompey's
    	goal came in injury time and didn't really trouble Brighton.
    	
    	Ok, I admit it, I did go 8-)
    
    	Andy.

    <<< Note 172.3 by TRUCKS::SANT "Charity? Don't mind if I do, mate.." >>>
                          -< fairly boring, really.. >-
    	
>>    	Ok, I admit it, I did go 8-)
    
    	Andy,
	     can I take it therefore that you live in/or around the 
	Pompey area.....?!?!?!?

	If so I'll have to give you a shout some time, I'm an I.T.
	from Portsmouth Poly', unfortunately I've got to go back in Sept'
	to start my final year... Aaaghhh!!!!
	Knowing the trials, tribulations and pressure involved with exams
	I'd would be delighted to indulge in a 'few' beers of an
	eve'.......

			Alboy...

	P.S.  I knew the score was either 3-2 or 2-1, never mind ehh......
	P.P.S.  Do you know what the 'hastle's regarding the stand are 
	based on...???

    
    	Yep. I live in Gosport. Based at SBP. I don't "support" Pompey
    	but occasionally go along to watch, as it's my "local" team..
    
    	The hassle about the proposed Milton Road stand (to comply 
    	with Taylor..) was that the county surveyor upheld a judgement
    	that the new stand would actually prevent light reaching houses
    	and gardens close to the Fratton Park ground. Portsmouth are
    	now (almost) forced to find a new location for a new stadium in
    	order to comply with the Taylor ruling.
     
    	Andy.

    Andy,
    
    Milton is the away end right ... but the last time I was in Pompey they 
    also had plans to rebuild the stand that they had to knock down at the 
    Fratton End a few years back - did they ever get round to that.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks (Ports Poly 1981-1985)

    Portsmouth have agreed to situate their new ground just outside
    Portsmouth by the Hilton National in Farlington?, It is the site
    currently of some playing fields and waste land but onyl a mile of two
    off the  M27/A27. They are looking to build it all seater.

>>                     <<< Note 172.7 by LARVAE::FERRARO_A >>>
>>                             -< New Stadium site >-
>>    Portsmouth have agreed to situate their new ground just outside
>>    Portsmouth by the Hilton National in Farlington?, It is the site
>>    currently of some playing fields and waste land but onyl a mile of two
>>    off the  M27/A27. They are looking to build it all seater.

	Anyone any idea as to when this ground will be bulit........????
	Surely they'll be able to buy extra-comfy-cushioned-chairs from
	the sale of Mr Anderton....  *8]

	I'll miss the 'ol Fratton Park......smelly 'honga'..vans all along
	Winston Churchill Avenue.....

				Cheers Al.

	P.S.  'Honga'  =   Hot Dog
	       Just some silly name we used for this particular delicacy... *8]
	       I suppose you had to be there.......

    Although the move has been agreed in principle, there is still a good
    chance that Fratton Park will be developed despite the objection of 32
    households. The Farlington recreation ground would have innumerable
    problems if it should be developed ( next to an SSSI, residents
    objecting etc ).
    Pompey have aboujut as much chance of promotion next season as I have
    of winning the pools jackpot. It is rumoured that JG is not happy with
    'bald eagle' throwing away the chance of promotion to concentrate on
    the cup.... another new manager in the offing ?????????

    Spurs play at Fratton on the 10th of August in our last friendly before
    the season starts.
    
    antony

    
    I'll be in London on Oct 10th and I'd like to see some football.  There
    is first division football at Upton Park - West Hsm v Sunderland. 
    There is also the option of Millwall v Cambridge but I'd rather go and
    watch football.  
    
    Anyway Pompey v Swindon looks very attractive.  Is it likely to be all
    ticket?  Anyone got any idea how much a day return costs from London?
    	 
    Any help would be much appreciated.
    
    Gary.

    Gary,
    
    By train it's Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour then get a cab to the
    ground. The train is likely to cost �15-�16 for a day return, plus a
    couple of quid for taxi's. I don't think the game is all ticket but
    I'll try and find out for you, I wouldn't have thought so, I don't know 
    if you want to stand or sit but Pompey has standing at each end plus along 
    both lower tiers of the stands running along the length of the pitch with 
    seats in the upper tier.
    
    It's a straight forward journey by road, along M25, M3, M27 to
    Portsmouth, then follow signs for Fratton and look for the floodlights.
    
    Also loads of pubs around the ground, normally OK. Only on the visit of
    big clubs occasionally get idiots around.
    
    Hope this helps,
    
    Antony          
    
    Hope this helps, 

                    <<< Note 172.12 by LARVAE::FERRARO_A >>>
    
    >> By train it's Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour then get a cab to the
    >> ground. The train is likely to cost �15-�16 for a day return, plus a
    
    I think the fast train from Waterloo stops at Fratton, which as the
    name suggests, is a mere 5 minute walk from Fratton Park, so no taxi.
    
    Ian.

    
    lads, thanks for the info.  Sounds good.  Looks like a good game and
    Fratton is another ground I haven't seen.
    
    Gary.

    Gary,
    
    You definitely want to go and see Pompey (the 2nd best team in England)
    because that way you'll get to see all the players who will be gracing
    the RTE T.V screens in a year or two while playing for Liverpool, the
    Mancs, The Totts, the Arse etc ...
    
    Because of the relative locality of Swindon the match will probably be
    all-ticket, it has been in previous years so call the ticket office
    first. As someone said the pubs around the ground are usually safe but
    since Portsmouth is controlled by Whitbread the beer is awful (almost
    like American beer!) so look for one of the few Gales pubs and have a pint
    of HSB you won't be disappointed - the nearest is the Milton Arms about
    two blocks from the ground.
    
    And just to confuse you about train stations Portsmouth has 3 - you
    definitely do not want to get off at the Harbour that is many miles away.
    The "slow train" from London stops at Fratton which is next to the
    ground  but get the "fast train" and get off at "central" right in the
    middle of the town from there a taxi will cost about a fiver (sorry
    can't do pound signs on this keyboard) or being a fit young man its
    a brisk 3 mile walk back to the ground - just follow the train line.
    
    Can you tell I used to live there? Any other questions? Oh go on get me
    a programme please.
    
    regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks
    
                                                                  

    
>  Any other questions?
    
    Yes. How many goals are they going to get beat by on Saturday (against
    Newcastle)?
    
    Any early response would be appreciated.
    
    Tim 

    
    	Gary, the fast trains from Waterloo *do* definitely stop at
    	Fratton, which is right by the ground.
    
    	Pompey are playing some good football at the moment, and so are 
    	Swindon. Should be a good game.
    
    	Andy.

    
    thanks for the info.  Anyone got the number of the ticket office?
    
    Gary.

    
    
    0705 665260
    
    Courtesy of EYP again.......
    
    Paul

    
    This is a bit late but here's a report on Pompey v Swindon 10/10/92
    
    Pompey 3 Swindon 1
    
    I thoroughly enjoyed this game and the day in general.  Pompey were the
    better side and fully deserved the 3 points but Swindon played some
    lovely football and really made a game of it.
    
    Swindon play a passing game which is very good to watch but can get
    bogged down.  Pompey were more direct but still play good football.
    Alan McLoughlin scored after a scramble midway through the first half.
    Guy Whittington made it 2 just before the break.
    
    Steve White gave Swiondon some hope with a consolation goal 11 minutes
    from the end and they almost snatched an equaliser before Mark
    Chamberlain made the game safe late on.  The visitors defence was awol
    for the goal but considering they were 2-1 in the last minute this was
    understandable.
    
    Gary. 

	Pompey ...2    Newcastle ...0
	Whittingham	
	Symonds

	Attendance 20000+

	A good win for Pompey, gaining revenge for the defeat at St. James Park
	earlier in the season, and aslo getting back to winning ways after a 
	minor hiccup against Bristol City at the weekend.

	By all accounts a good game with Pompey putting away their chances and
	Newcastle squandering theirs, including a missed penalty 5 mins from the
	end.

	Pompey were probably favourites for this game as their home record would
	suggest (pity we can't be as consistent away from home)

	Things are hotting up for promotion in this division and nothing is clear
	cut. It would seem that Newcastle and West Ham will more than likely go
	up with the plyoffs being contested by Tranmere, Millwall, Pompey and
	one other.



	Dave

    
    Blimey Dave, you didn't go to a match did you?
    
    Symons will never hit a ball better than that again. We created a few
    chances (Clark, Kelly etc), but didn't look like we could score if we 
    played for a fortnight. Pompey deserved the win. I think you're home
    form will be good enough to get you into the playoffs.
    
    Tim

    Pompey dropped to fourth after their suprising 1-0 victory at Cambridge.
    There is now only a six point gap between fourth and second. Swindon
    play away at Luton Wednesday and could reduce the lead to three points.
    Pompey are trying to buy a forward even though the midfield is
    atrocious and a winger is badly needed. Transfer deadline looms, but I
    expect a lot more leavers than joiners.

    what's happening with Guy Whittingham is he for sale or what??

    I hope Guys for sale --- 47 goals and still not in the top flight !!!!
    Pompey completely bottled it against Grimsby and against Leicester they
    	were hopeless. Jim Smith carries on with a 100% failure rate in the
    playoffs. Just another coach who can't MANAGE his team. Next season
    only one team goes up automatically and that won't be Pompey. Managers
    must learn that losing 55-10 is better than losing 1-0.

    
    Jim Smith's also in the sh*t because some off the tickets he was
    allocatated for last year's FA cup final ended up on the black
    market.....
    
    According to teletext
    
    Paul

    Are they still going ahead with the new ground? the newspaper
    I read (ok it was the Sunday Times!) implied that they could only
    afford it if they got promoted - extra TV revenue etc. and they did
    announce it at a time when they looked like they had the 2nd promotion
    spot wrapped up.
    
    Regards,
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    OK, I own up. I'm a contractor who occasionally works for Digital and I
    grew up in Portsmouth. In spite of believing that the best thing to
    come from Portsmouth is the train to Waterloo, I've followed the team
    through thin and thin since I were a lad. Fortunately I work abroad
    much of the time so I am not forced to see them often 8-)
    
    Having said that, I think Pompey have been playing some really good
    football over the last two or three seasons. Jim Smith has bought good
    players and has also developed locals - Anderton and Whittingham for
    example. Unfortunately, he has been forced to sell the talented ones.
    
    Wednesday's Guardian reports Whittingham has been sold to Villa for
    �800K plus a player, possibly England U21 Mark Blake. They are also
    rumoured to be bidding c. �200K for Leeds Lee Chapman (age 34!).
    
    Two questions:
    
    Who are Pompey playing in the first few games of the season?
    
    What do people think of the last two seasons where Pompey have been
    pipped at the post by penalties and playoffs?
    
    Cheers
    Pete
    
    

     Is it true that Portsmouth are looking in to buying Robert Fleck
     from Chelsea, I hope so!!!!!
    
     Andy..B
    

Portsmouth 3	Derby 2
Walsh		Johnson
Durnin		??
Symons


After God knows how many draws it's good to win a game.

Derby started well and it took Portsmouth about � hour to string some decent 
passes together. After about 5 min Gabbiadini walked through the Pompey defence
who were appealing for offside and only had Alan Knight to beat. Knight saved 
what looked a certain goal by diving at his feet. After 15 mins Derby went ahead
and fully deserved the lead. On 30 mins Pompey equalised after Dobson won the
ball on the bye line from Gary Charles (who had an awful game) passed to Walsh 
who slid the ball in from a couple of yards. Pompey then created several chances
and started to get the upperhand. Halftime 1 - 1.
Straight from the kick off Walsh robbed Charles inside the Derby half went passed
a couple of defenders and shot at goal. The keeper could only parry the shot 
which fell to Durnin who put it away. About 15 mins later Walsh who was giving
the Derby defence a rough time was pulled back in the area by Short. Symons
placed the penalty in the keepers top left hand corner.
15 mins from time Derby pulled one back. It was then nip and tuck with both sides
creating chances.
At the end of the day the result was just about right.



Just heard that Portsmouth council have just passed a motion for Pompey to build
an all seater stadium at Farlington (outskirts of Portsmouth)




Dave

    Is that since we stuffed you 5-1?!? ;-)
    
    Paul

    
    ......last note october,not much interest for pompey then.
                 By the way you might be interested to that.............
    ................oh,doesn't matter no one's gonna read it anyway.....
    
    

    Go on, I'm interested as I was born and bred in Portsmouth. I always
    look out for their results
    
    Terry

    
    ............You've got Man Utd in the quarter finals of the coca-cola
    cup if you beat petersbrough in the replay......Now that's got to be
    the best thing that has happened to portsmouth for a while......

    .... and a trip to Blackburn in the F.A. Cup
    
    Incidentally I watched Portsmouths 1-0 win in a raging storm at Charlton 
    on the telly yesterday, seemed like Paul Walsh was the only one who
    knew how to play and he looked like the only one who really wanted to play.
    
    On that performance Man Utd and Blackburn have little to fear.
    
    Cheers,                                                      
    
    Andy   

    Your not wrong there andy,but 2 good money spinners which could buy a
    few more experienced pro's like Walsh and get Portsmouth up there with
    the big boys.............
    
    

    Trouble is that they keep selling their best players - e.g. Darren
    Anderton, Mick Quinn & Guy Whittingham. If they had been able to keep hold 
    of players of that calibre, they might be up with the big boys now.
    
    Terry

    
    They had a year with the big boys, but couldn't attract the crowds -
    that's why they sank back into the then second division and now have to
    sell their best players.
    
    Paul - ex resident of Gosport, Hants

re. 37

	Not forgetting one of the buys of the year, Lee Chapman.

	Phil.

    
    They do look short of a few players, I think they could do worse than 
    make Tony Dobsons loan a permanent. I haven't seen him play for
    Portsmouth but I thought he always did a good job when he managed to 
    get a game at Blackburn.
    
    And what happened to Chris Price ? I though Blackburn sold him to
    Portsmouth. 
    
    Cheers,
    
    Andy

Pompey have signed Tony Dobson for around �150k from Blackburn. He's been on loan
for the last few months.

Pompey have extended Paul Walsh's contract for a further year which basically 
ties him to Pompey until the end of his career. 

Some poor performances over Christmas

Millwall...0     Pompey...0
Pompey.....0     Bolton...0
Barnsley...2     Pompey...0


Due to the lack of goals being scored Jim Smith is on the lookout for a striker.
It would appear that Brett Angell (Southend) has agreed terms with Pompey. Not 
sure of the fee, but somewhere in the region of �450k

It has also been rumoured that Blackburn have expressed an interest in Kit
Symons and are willing to bid �2 million. Due to Pompey's financial situation I
would imagine that Pompey would find it hard to refuse the bid.

re:: lack of goals

Shouldn't have gotten rid of Chapman at the start of the season!

                            James.

    
    Pompey didn't get rid of Chapman, he got rid of them. Missing the
    highlife of the Premier league an all that....
    
    Tony
    
    

    
    It was good to see a team come to Blackburn and actually try to play
    football and Portsmouth went away with what they deserved albeit
    through some sloppy defending on our part.
    
    Therefore it was a shame that a minority of the Portsmouth fans still
    seem to think that fighting with the police and stewards is the IN
    thing at football matches especially as they were seated in the most
    modern part of the stadium with a fantastic view of the game.
    
    I wish Portsmouth all the best and hope that they do get promotion but
    unless the idiots learn that that sort of behaviour is not accepted in
    the Premier league I feel your stay could be short-lived.
    
    regards
    
    Stephen.
    Blackburn Rovers Season Ticket Holder
    
    
    PS  I would count on our defence being as generous in the reply.
     

I'm surprised to hear that some Pompey fans were involved in some trouble.

They did have a reputation a few years ago, but it did seem to have been 
eradicated. Still it was a good result from Pompey's view and I'm looking forward
to the replay (Wed 19th Jan) not all ticket.

On Pompey's current form I will predict a draw, with it going to penalties after
extra time. 


On the transfer front the papers say that Brett Angell has signed for �500,000
I assume as Southend's cup game was postponed he should be eligible for the 
replay.

Looking forward to the game at Old Trafford on Wednesday. I don't think it's 
beyond us to force a replay there as well. I can dream, I suppose.


Dave

    
    
      Final score
    
       Man. Utd  2   Portsmouth  2
    
       Giggs 
       Cantona       Walsh 2
    
    As on Saturday, Portsmouth came from behind to force a replay.
    
     Danny.

What a week for Pompey, we play the supposedly best 2 teams in the country on
their own turf, give them a head start and still force a replay.

Here's looking to see them down at Fratton Park in the next couple of weeks.


Dave

A great atmosphere at Fratton Park on Wednesday with a near capacity crowd.

Tim Flowers and Alan Shearer were given the traditional greeting of "Scummer,
Scummer" usually reserved for anyone with the faintest connection with the other
South Coast team 20 miles down the road.

A good open, flowing game with possession being about 50/50, but to be fair 
Blackburn created the better chances.

Pompey came closest first with a Kristiensen (sp) header against the Blackburn
post after about 20 mins. Blackburn eventually took the lead through Shearer
about a minute before halftime. The goal was fortunate as it took a wicked 
deflection past the stranded Alan Knight.

The second half went the same as the first with plenty of incident. Blackburn
scored a second with a header from May. About 5 mins later Pompey got back into
the match with the goal of the game from the edge of the area from McLoughlin.
The Pompey fans got behind the team again and the Pompey Chimes were echoing
round the ground.

Then came the "hand of God" incident. About 5 mins after the Pompey goal 
Blackburn crossed the ball into the Pompey area for Wilcox to punch/push the ball
into the net. Pompey were preparing to take the free kick but amazingly the ref
gave a goal, unbelievable. It seemed the only person in the ground who thought
it was a goal was the Ref. The traditional cries of "The Referee's a w****r"
surfaced. After this incident the tackles got harder and both teams got more
physical and subsequently Blackburn picked up 3 bookings. 

Apart from the final incident it was a good cup-tie with 2 attacking teams, 
however, I was surprised at the amount of whingeing from the Blackburn players.
They must rank only 2nd to Arsenal for arguing with the Ref if the decision went
against them. 


Pompey entertain Man Utd at Fratton Park next week. Already a sell out. It is,
however, going to be shown live on Meridian for those, like me who couldn't get a
ticket.



DAve

    
    Pompey today signed Celtic's out of contract striker, Gerry Creaney.
    He's 23, and has been on month to month contracts at Parkhead all
    season, due to firstly refusing terms from Liam Brady, and now 
    Macari.
    The TV reported it as a �500,000 deal.........but CEEFAX stated that it
    was a loan deal. Can anyone clarify ?
    
    No doubt he'll score a few goals for you guys, but like most
    strikers....he's inconsistent (Very !).
    
    

	As I understand. Creaney is on loan for a month, to overcome a 
	technicality which will allow him to play in the cup replay against
	Manchester United tonight. Then he will be officially transferred.
    
    

    Good Luck for tonight.
    
    My prediction : Pompey 2 - 1 ManU
    
    Creaney to score both goals.

    I really hope they do get through!!
    
    mav

Is this match on telly tonight?

Mike

     Meridian live at 8.00pm otherwise highlights on around 10.40pm.
    
    
    /GAry

Excellent. 

Cheers,

Mike

Up the Pompey !!

Barry

    Hello 
     	I am quite upset there must be more POMPY supporters out there, you
    	simply can not let the scum supporters outdo you with more replies,
        you have to let everyone know that *PORTSMOUTH* are simply the only  
        club that play football on the south coast.
    						
    	P.S. and I am a northerner, so let see you giving it with pride
             they play in Blue & White so they have to be good.
    
    Mike.
    
    	

    I'm the other Pompey supporter. Based at Newbury but live just outside
    Pompey.
    
    Unfortunately only been to the one game this season and amazingly
    enough, they won 2-1 against Notts County. Not much to write about
    really as we're having a dismal season. Can't understand it as we've
    got a reasonable squad. Admittedly we've had a glut of injuries. Let's
    hope things pick up over Christmas and we can claw our way out of the
    relegation zone.
    
    
    Dave
    

    
    	Score was 0-1, but the result is the same I guess....
    
    	Match report Rob, or was one of your women dragging you round 
    	the shops? ;-)
    
    	Andy.

Mixed results over Christmas

Watford   2	Pompey   0
Pompey    3	Barnsley 0
Sheff Utd 3	Pompey   1
Pompey    2	Burnley  0

We're just hovering above the relegation zone. Div 1 is very tight this year
(again) we're only 12 points off a playoff place even though we're 6th from 
bottom.

Anyway I must keep the faith as I think we're too good a side to go down (now 
where have I heard that before)


Dave

Pompey 3	Bolton 1
Creaney		Some Bolton player
Preki 2

Good win for Pompey as Bolton ar flying high and have been a good cup team of
late. Have Pompey finally turned the corner?

Leicester at Fratton Park in the next round. On current form we should get a
result.


Dave

Sighs of relief all round the Premier League (except Ipswich!) at that result!

g

I'll put this in here, though it could equally have gone into the Blackburn, 
ManU, Leeds, West Ham etc etc note . . .

According to Teletext on 3, a Portsmouth fan is suing the Endsleigh League for 
�48 because "bad" refereeing decisions have cost his team 3 matches!

grahame

    Terry Fenwick is Portsmouth's new manager....
    
    Ray....

    Apparently Jim 'bald eagle' Smith was asked to take paid leave until
    the end of the season, but he declined and as mentioned in the previous
    note Terry Fenwick has been appointed as the new manager.
    
    Time will tell how he will do. 
    
    Things are not looking too bright down at Pompey at the moment.
    New manager
    No money
    Club up for sale
    Government refuse permission to build a new stadium
    
    What's next......relegation???
    
    Perhaps Mr Walker of Blackburn fame will want a new challenge.
    
    Oh for a few million, then we could be top of the Premier.
    
    Think I'll top myself now!
    
    
    Dave
     	

    Apparently Portsmouth are close to signing Paul Davis from Arsenal on a
    free transfer. PD and the Terry Fenwick are discussing personal terms. 
    
    Also on a free transfer, a rather talented winger is talking to Portsmouth.
    He goes by the name of Jimmy Carter...
    
    Stuart
    

SNARF!

    Write-lock all notes with upwards of 60 replies, I say...
    
    Dom

Don't blame me, daddio!

    Malc then..
    

    
    	We blame you for starting this, ye great steaming Welsh tattie !
    It's all your fault ...
    

    
    No it wasn't me either. It's somebody with one of those daft PC's that
    ask you for a username each time ...
    
    Malc$I_hate_snarfs.
    

re .74

Wasn't my fault.  I've got nothing to do with 69ers these days <sigh>.  I'm a 
*00/*000 man, m'self.

    
    	And his node is in Reading ...
    

What's a tattie anyway?

    > JEAVES::65080::IT_WAS_MALC

    Oh no it wasn't !

    	A tattie is a potato ye great sassenach pudden. Stop these snarfs
    right now or we'll come round and put a bat up your nightdress.
    

    
    > Its probably a sad northern git
    
    In Reading ? Well that should narrow the field down a bit.
    

    But Wales isn't in the north...
    
    Dom

Keep guessing

    
    > Keep guessing
    
    Stuart Panes ?
    
    Tell us if we're getting warm ...
    

    Malc
    
    > We could do this all night ...
    
    From what I've been told, that will be a first...
    
    Stuart

    
    > From what I've been told, that will be a first...
    
    OK who's been talking ?
    
    Malc$well_endowed_sexual_athlete_allegedly.
    

    A lot of comings and goings at Fratton Park recently.
    
    First Kit Symons joins Man City for Fitzroy Simpson and CArl Griffiths
    plus cash. This was a transfer that has been on the cards for a couple
    of seasons now albeit not to City.
    
    Gerry Creaney joins Man City for Paul Walsh and cash. Although Creaney
    was top scorer last season, the supporters always doubted his
    committment. Paul Walsh returning has certainly placated the supporters
    after the Symons transfer. Walsh was a favourite at Fratton Park and
    I'm sure will help the young strikers coming through to the First Team.
    
    Martin Allen from West Ham is on loan with a view to a transfer.
    
    Pompey have also signed a young striker from the Army (comparisons to
    Guy Whittingham will probably be rife). He impressed during the pre
    season friendlies.
    
    
    Dave
     
    

    
    > Although Gerry Creaney was top scorer last season, the supporters
    > always doubted his committment.
    
    	What makes you say that, Dave ?
    
    	Curious of Celtic Park.
    

    JUST WONDERING WHAT ANYBODY THOUGHT OF TERRY BRADY GETTING A PLACE ON
    THE BOARD?
     

    I heard on Ocean FM that he'd put up the �500k in order to purchase
    Martin Allen and as such was admitted to the board.
    
    Don't know anything about him or how much money he's got behind him.
    
    

    Don't know anything about him or how much money he's got behind him! 
    Just found out his Karen Bradys' father; of the Birmingham city fame;
    and that he's a milliorare, but does not what the chairmanship.
    

    Does anybody know anything about the new staduim? Are we still looking
    for a new site? or are they going to upgrade Fratton? Any ideas?
    

    >> Any ideas? <-- How about a ground share with Southampton. Should make
    life interesting. 
    
    			Stretch.
    
    P.S If they do demolish Fratton Park can the tuneless tw*t with the
    horn and his mate with the bell be buried under the new stand? This is
    a sincere request from *EVERY* team in the Endsleigh Div1!!!

re .92

	I seem to remember hearing on R5 on Monday evening that they
	willing be upgrading Fratton Park. 


	Phil.

    the guy with the bell I remember but not the guy with the horn
    he rang it all the way through the tumultuous climb from Div 4
    obscurity to Div 1 obscurity in the early 80s
    
    It's something to do with sailors and doesn't he dress up like the
    picture on the sports page of the Portsmouth Evening News with the
    sailors hat and uniform too.
    
    Regards
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks
                                

    Andrew - ref the sailor. There is a chap who walks round the pitch
    prior to the k.o, with a large placard saying "Play up Pompey!", dressed
    in the full Navy kit. Hat, bellbottoms etc etc. Fair play to the chap
    for having the nerve to walk in front of the away fans like this, let
    alone the home ones!
    The chap with the hunting horn is a tuneless git of the highest order
    and it surprises me that the Pompey fans have not turned on him! If
    anyone can recognise a few bars of the "tunes" he "plays" throughout
    the entire match they obviously have a better ear for "music" than I,
    or anyone I have spoken to who has endured this can ever do!!! 
    
    
    			Stretch.

    I think he keeps trying to play (without much success!) the tune the
    Dutch sing at all their international matches! Well thats what it
    sounds like to me!
    

    Stretch,
    
    I don't remember seeing the navy guy when I saw Mighty Pompey play at
    Christmas (and a wonderful game it was too in pouring rain) but i
    probably never have seen him in my student days as the Pompey pub next the
    ground was always open up to kickoff time (one last drink before
    witnessing another bad game!) but I see that now the pub is the club
    shop.
    
    Do they still play that damn tubular bells song or whatever it was...?
    Regards
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks
                                                                          

    To "Atlanta's Most (In)famous Welshman",
    
    I think you're thinking of the famous pompey chimes!!! and we do still
    sing them.
    
    Kind regards 
    
    A pompey Fan!
    

    no i'm definitely thinking of a mike oldfield song called "Portsmouth"
    or something like that - I remember the chimes watching pompey for 5
    years....

    The Pompey chimes? Is that the chant the opposition turn into "One song
    Pompey, Pompey one song"? Unless the chimes consists of one nutter and
    his cow bell!
    
    				Stretch.

    ooooo Mr Panes! Well we know there are at least two of them, one playing
    the horn and one on the bell!

TO "Atlanta's Most (In)famous Welshman"
    
    Yes you're right! there is a tune by Mike Oldfield called Portsmouth!
    and a great tune it is aswell as the a great team!!!!
    
    kind regards
    
    A pompey Fan!
     

    -< or... "S**t ground no fans, no fans s**t ground" >-
    
    Well you can tell this must be from a southampton scummer!!!!
    
    Kind regards
    
    A Portsmouth Fan!
    

    I read in the paper yesturday that old Terry Venables has been offered
    the exec. of football at Portsmouth! any ideas on that one guys?
    

    well after england it would be a step up for him....

    <well after england it would be a step up for him....>
    
    Very true! but as they say the only way is up after all!!!!!
    

    >>Very true! but as they say the only way is up after all!!!!!
    
    Just look at Graham Taylors meteoric career path!!!
    
    			Stretch.

    >>Just look at Graham Taylors meteoric career path!!!<<
    
    Yea! I think we're playing them on monday! Lets see if watford play as
    well as the england team under old graham. Hopefully they do we need
    the points!!!!
    

    Anybody got any thoughts on how close its going to be at the end of
    this season to stay in the first division? We just have to hope
    everybody below us doesn't win for the rest of the season!!!!
    

    As long as Reading stay above you I will be happy to see Luton and
    Watford go!!! Good that Leicester beat Oldham last night, shame
    Tranmere beat Ipswich.
    
    			Stretch. 

    We've gotta beat Barnsley on Saturday, we might draw at home to Ipswich
    but I doubt if we'll get anything away to Huddersfield.
    
    What might save us is that the clubs below us have to play each other
    so hopefully we can profit from that.
    
    This Saturday I think Watford play Luton, doesn't really matter who
    wins that but a draw would be the best result.
    Reading play Charlton, they're going for a play off place, so hopefully
    Charlton will win that.
    Millwall home to Oldham, Millwall to win that.
    
    I think that Luton and Reading have to play Oldham as well, so if they
    draw we're laughing and we'll still be playing the Scummers next season
    and not Bournemouth.
    
    
    Dave
    

    Dave,
    
    >Reading have to play Oldham
    
    Rather depressingly, Reading beat Oldham the other week.
    
    Stuart

    And you were there!!!

    And seen on TV during a news round up, so it's kinda hard to deny it.
    
    Stuart

    Stratto.... I never thought you'd sink so low as attending a football
    match at Elm Park....
    
    Next think you know you'll be growing long hair and calling yourself
    Fabio's brother....
    
    Cheers,
    
    	Rick.

    > Next think you know you'll be growing long hair
    
    No danger of that.
    
    Stuart

    And he has been more than once!!!

    I was reading in the News last night that everybody reckons that we
    will manage to stay up as long as we don't lose another game!!!!!
    But it will be good next season playing against the scummers(saints)
    because I'll be able to rub my fathers face in it when they lose both
    games against us next season!!!
    
    Hopefully this season has put some sense into the board and they might
    dip their hands into they pockets in the off season and get us some
    well derserved players!!!
    
    

    Not good.......
    
    A draw with Barnsley, Reading nicked a draw with Charlton and Oldham
    beat Millwall. At least Luton only drew with Oldham.
    
    So we're still in the same position except Oldham are now level on
    points with a game in hand.
    
    We must beat Ipswich....somehow I don't think so, but I hope I'm wrong.
    I don't particularly want to see teams like Wycombe and Bradford at
    Fratton Park next season especially if it's gonna be all seater and
    cost more dosh.
    
    
    DAve
    

    I Totally agree!!!!
    
    Won't be fun if we do go down :-(
    
    Mike
    

    Well I went on Saturday and I wish I hadn't. Pompey were dire, mind you
    Ipswich were no better. I was hoping that as this was the last home
    game of the season Pompey would have shown a bit of fight and passion,
    but no, not a bit of it. 
    I think the loss of Walsh has been crucial this season as I think his 
    experience would have helped Hall and Burton.
    Fenwick should have got an experienced forward on loan as soon as he
    knew Walshies fate. Hall and Burton are still young and inexperienced
    so they can't really be blamed for not delivering the goods.
    
    Even if we win at Huddersfield (and I hope we do) it's out of our
    hands. The board and Mr Fenwick must take the blame for a very poor
    season.
    
    
    Dave
    

    What happened to Walsh? He looked impressive against Norwich
    (see Jon I hadn't mentioned that game in weeks!)
    
    Regards
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

>    What happened to Walsh? He looked impressive against Norwich
>    (see Jon I hadn't mentioned that game in weeks!)

Andrew,

Against Norwich on that day, even *you* would have looked impressive :-)

Jon

    Re: Walsh, he did his cruciate (sp) ligaments beginning of the year and
    is expected to be out until Christmas. I think he only recently had an
    operation. He has said that if the leg isn't as strong as it was and if
    it hinders his type of game ie. twistin' and turnin' a lot then he'll
    call it a day.
    
    I see the results last night went against us. It's now out of our
    hands. If we lose this weekend then we're down.
    If we win and Millwall lose then we stay up.
    
    
    Dave
    

    We can also get away with it if Millwall draw because we will have a
    much better goal difference! as long as we don't mess things up against
    huddersfield.

    Well I heard that Portsmouth escaped the drop but I don't have anymore
    details. This is great news even if I heard in the same message that
    the Scummers somehow managed to not get relegated. Ah well 1 out of 2.
    
    Regards
    
    Andrew.D.Wicks

    GREAT NEWS! we mangaed the minor miracle by staying in the first
    divsion! Pity the saints didn't get relegated. It would have been good
    to play them next season. ;-)
    
    I tell you one good thing, having a bank holiday this last weekend was
    good to us pompey fans;it gave us time to recover from the hangovers!!!@�%?
    
    I just knew the weekend would be good for us. I managed to talk to and
    get some autographs of some of the players as they were getting on the
    team coach on saturday afternoon down here @SBP.
     

    And Millwall went down instead! Excellent.
    
    			Stretch.

    > And Millwall went down instead!
    
    And in typical Millwall style they managed to rip out hald the seats
    the away supporters end...
    
    Cheers,
    
    	Rick.

    And they still have the fine from last seasons celebrations hanging
    over them! And I bet they will get away with it, AGAIN!!!!
    
    
    			Stretch.

    Great News, thank God we'll be playing team like Man City next season
    and not the likes of Bury.
    
    Now that we've made the Great Escape lets hope the board spend some
    money in the close season and strengthen the squad instead of selling
    the better ones.
    
    Apparently they still haven't awarded a contract to any builders for
    the refurbishment of Fratton Park. Do you think the board were waiting
    to see if we got relegated first, as I believe I'm right in saying that
    if you're in the second division you don't need to be all seater.
    
    Here's looking to 1st Division soccer again next season.
    
    
    Dave
    

    According to the local papers here in solent Terry brady has said he is
    neither going to let Pompey get so low in the divsion again!!
    
    Also he and Terry Fenwick have got Eight players on they short list to
    buy in the off season( Four experienced Players and four good youngests
    ) no idea who through, But I'll keep my eyes peeled in the papers!!!
    
    

    Also read in the local papers that Warren Smith (from the consortium -
    remember them) was spotted in Pompey's civic offices. Was he looking
    into planning permission at Fratton Goods Yard??? or is it just
    coincidence and speculation.
    
    I hope we're not going to have another 6 months of the on/off sale.
    
    As mentioned in the previous note Brady and Fenwick are looking at
    around 8 players for next season. Let's hope they get the right type of
    players.
    
    Also read in one of the papers last week that Jim Smith (Derby) was
    looking at buying Kit Symons (Man City) and Andy Awford. I hope that
    this is just a rumour the last thing we want is to sell our better
    players.
    
    
    Dave
    

    It wouldn't surprise me if the Board do sell Andy Awford! They are
    always after more money and not spending any on the club!!
    
    <<Also read in the local papers that Warren Smith (from the consortium
    -remember them) was spotted in Pompey's civic offices. Was he
    looking into planning permission at Fratton Goods Yard??? or is it just
    coincidence and speculation.>>
    
    Perhaps he was looking into planning permission for another location
    for the new ground the consortium promised??? you nether know :-)
    
    Mike
    

    Heard on local radio that El Tel may be coming to Pompey as a co-owner.
    Any truth in this or is this just another rumour. As a co-owner what
    will he do, he hasn't exactly got mega bucks to throw around and invest
    in the club. The only problem is, is that El Tel is mate of Gregory so
    I guess if El Tel does come to Pompey Gregory will stay.
    
    
    Dave
    

    Yes it may be true! Hopefully! If he does join pompey and become joint
    owner of the club gregory will be selling the majority of his outside
    interrests to put money into the club including �15 million just for
    players! Things could be looking up again for us?
    
    Mike
    

    It's great to see Venables has joined us! A pity we lost the first game
    of the season, But it is Pompey! and what can you expect? Good reasult
    last night against Leyton orient! Things could be looking up at long
    last. Anybody got any other views?
    
    Mike
    

    
    >> Anybody got any other views?
    
    About Pompey? Certainly, but they're not printable in here (even
    without a moderator).
    
    
    Jeff
    

    >>About Pompey? Certainly, but they're not printable in here (even
        without a moderator).<<
    
    Let me guess a saints surporter!!!!!!!!
    
    or Even worse a reading surporter!!!!
    
    Mike
    
    

    Mike,
    
    Mr Kirkpatrick is a Reading supporter, although he was seen recently
    cheering for Man Utd in the Charidy Shield.

    Well after the result on friday I might start to surport Man u aswell.
    I can't believe that we are now bottom of the first div! something has
    to be done? Ether Geogrey pays out some big money for some half discent
    players or sells the club to someone who can; and will provide the
    Terrys with something that looks like a half good team!!!! ;-)
    
    Mike
     

    Do you mean Reading (as in the town) or reading?
    
    
        Stretch.(the other Reading supporter who was at the Charidee Shield)

    
    re .143
    
    >> Mr Kirkpatrick is a Reading supporter, although he was seen recently
    >> cheering for Man Utd in the Charidy Shield.
    
    Slander! I had intended to cheer for the Geordies but they were so
    shite that this was just not possible. Instead, I cheered for the
    referee who had a jolly good game I thought.
    
    
    j.

    SURPRISE SURPRISE!!!! We actually managed to win a game on tuesday
    night a nice 1-0 win over southend utd. Who knows we might win the next
    one and in my book thats a winning streek ;-)
    
    Mike
    

    SURPRISE SURPRISE!!!! We actually managed to win ANOTHER game, like I
    said in the previous note we're on a winning streek!!! Good game
    against Grimsby Town a solid 1-0 victory. I read in the paper today
    that Terry Venables is close to making his first signing as director of
    football. A young spurs player by the name of Andy Turner; he's also an
    U21 Republic of Ireland player. he should cost us about �300,000 (not
    bad for a good striker!!)
    
    Mike
    

    I understand that Andy Turner may be in the side against Orient
    tonight. Does anyone know what this player is like??? I hoped that
    Pompey would sign an experienced striker. That's not to denigrate Hall
    and Burton who I think could become a very good partnership, but I
    think a bit of experience up front is required in the absence of Walsh. 
    Nevertheless any signing is good news at the moment, lets hope for a
    couple more.
    
    Dave
    

    Andy Turner is about 5 foot 10. So he's not much taller than the rest!
    He cost us �300,000 He is twenty years old and plays for the eire Under
    21's. Also his had a few first team games for spurs when he was
    there. He might have the necessary experince we require. Apart from
    that! Thats all I've read about him :-)
    
    Mike
    

    Went down to fratton park on saturday Good Proformance! You can tell
    the El tel enfluence on the team the passing in the first half was the
    best I've seen in a long time! Just a shame that we still can't manage
    to hold on to win a game!! :-(
    
    Mike
    
    

    Kinda makes you wonder why Southampton (scummers) had such a problem
    with Reading!
    
    Portsmouth 3 - Over confident Reading 0.
    
    Introduction of the super swede made all the difference, he had a hand
    in all 3 goals. What a bargain he's turning out to be.
    
    Away in the next leg to either Leeds or Arsenal, personally I'd rather
    play Arsenal, but mainly because Leeds is a hell of a long drive
    away!!!
    
    Match report from Soccernet:
    
    Swedish striker Matthias Svensson came off the bench and within 10
    minutes had booked Portsmouth a place in the fifth round. 
    
    Manager Terry Fenwick needed to gamble with his side heading for a
    replay at Reading and he hit the jackpot when Svensson set up first
    Paul Hall then Lee Bradbury. 
    
    David Hillier added a late third but the damage had already been done. 
    
    Svensson came on in the 65th minute and two minutes later his
    through-ball released Hall who made no mistake. 
    
    Svensson was the provider again soon after when his lob allowed
    Bradbury to race clear and crash in his 10th goal of the season. With
    four minutes remaining, Svensson was involved again, setting Fitzroy
    Simpson free on the left, his cross was only parried by Sal Bibbo, and
    Hillier hit the empty net. 
    

    The super swede does it again...
    
    Portsmouth 2 Oxford 1.
    
    Oxford scored first, with the Pompey goals coming from Hall and
    Svensson late on.
    
    Doesn't do an awful lot to the league positions though...
    
    Alen.
    
    'Come on you Stockport!

    Portsmouth keep a nice little run going, by ending Oldhams. This win
    takes us up to 11th in the table, one point out of the playoff places,
    far too early to be thinking about that seriously yet, but we are
    getting clear of the other end of things.
    
    This wasn't a bad game, the first half we had loads of chances, with
    Fitzroy Simpson missing one of those 'my granny could've scored that
    and she's dead' chances. The second half we definitely sat on it,
    frustrating because we could've scored more, easily.
    
    The biggest talking point of this game was the ref... Hmmm, he likes
    his whistle and cards! He booked 7, sent 1 off, and for all but I'd say
    two of them everybody kept asking, well what the hell was THAT for?
    
    Still 3 points is 3 points! I've only recently convinced my wife to get
    interested in football (she's a Canadian, she likes Ice Hockey!), and
    I've started taking her to the games, of the 5 games she's seen, we've
    won 5! Smart. I'll have to keep taking her, as she's never seen them
    loose yet!
    
    Match report off http://www.nationwide.co.uk...
    
    
    Portsmouth 1 Oldham Athletic 0   Sat 01 February 1997   Fratton Park
    
    Oldham's run of seven matches away from home unbeaten was brought to an
    end by Paul Hall as Craig Fleming was sent off for a
    second bookable offence.
    
    Hall claimed his third goal in three matches with a seventh-minute
    strike, as Oldham failed to clear a long ball forward from Andy
    Awford.
    
    Referee Steve Bennett played a major part in the game, with seven
    players booked before Fleming was shown the red card in the 75th
    minute for an ill-timed challenge on Hall.
    
    He had only been booked for the first time in the 68th minute for an
    innocuous looking challenge on Fitzroy Simpson and walked from
    the field shaking his head in disbelief at his second caution.
    
    Oldham had chances to get back into the game, with Lee Richardson
    guilty of a very bad miss in the 59th minute after good work from
    substitute Nicky Banger.
    
    Banger pulled the ball back to unmarked Richardson, whose weak shot was
    easily dealt with by the Portsmouth defence.
    
    Alan McLoughlin hit the bar with a 20-yard effort in the 52nd minute,
    and Swedish striker Mathias Svensson was a constant threat,
    although lucky to stay on the pitch following an unfortunate first-half
    clash with Nicky Henry.
    
    Svensson, who had already been booked for an off-the-ball tussle with
    Toddy Orlygsson, threw a punch at Henry following a clash
    with the Oldham skipper. But Mr Bennett did not see it.
    

    He just keeps on doing it!
    
    That terribly smashing Swedish bloke scores again, to send the Brummie
    fans home a-sobbing and a-wailing! Bwahahahahahaha, 3-0 and we're up to
    8th place now, still only just outside the playoff places, although I
    think we've played 1 o r 2 games more than most of the teams above us,
    so our league position isn't all that meaningful. Much more meaningful
    is the fact that we've won the last 6 (or is it 7) games on the trot.
    
    Following match report from Nationwide...
    
    
    Birmingham City 0 Portsmouth 3   Sat 08 February 1997   St Andrews
    Ground
    
    Birmingham's hopes of making the first division promotion play-offs
    were severely dented as they surprisingly crashed to their third
    successive defeat in the space of a week.
    
    But while City's hopes have nosedived, Portsmouth operating on a
    shoestring compared to their big-spending hosts are enjoying a belated
    revival as they recorded their fourth successive league win.
    
    Pompey never looked back after taking a shock third-minute lead through
    Matty Svensson.
    
    The Swedish striker enjoyed mixed fortunes as he sustained a neck
    injury and had to be stretchered off eight minutes before half-time,
    but made a quick recovery and was able to watch the second half.
    
    As Birmingham struggled for an equaliser Portsmouth demonstrated their
    newly found confidence by sealing the game with second-half goals from
    Lee Bradbury and Alan McLoughlin, who converted an 83rd-minute penalty.
    
    The hosts had only themselves to blame for this miserable defeat as
    Portsmouth exploited obvious shortcomings in the midland club's
    defence.
    
    Birmingham never recovered from Pompey's opening goal. There was no
    apparent danger when Paul Hall put over a high cross but Svensson
    managed to head in off the far post.
    
    Although they dominated for long spells a frustrated Birmingham side
    lacked any real finishing power.
    
    Paul Devlin went close on two occasions while the unfortunate Paul
    Furlong twice hit the crossbar.
    
    But Portsmouth could not be denied and in the 78th minute Bradbury beat
    both Martin Grainger and Michael Johnson before slipping the ball past
    goalkeeper Ian Bennett.
    
    McLoughlin's penalty was awarded against Grainger in the 83rd minute
    for an off-the-ball incident which only compounded Birmingham's
    indifferent performance.
    

    >Next stop Leeds.
    
    Shouldn't that be :
    
    "Last FA Cup 1997 stop Leeds"
    
    Cheers,
    
    	Rick.

    .-1
    
    Such confidence!!!
    
    I do hope you live up to your high flying status and beat us
    convincingly, otherwise I'm gonna take the piss non stop!!!
    
    Alen.

    
    Everything appears to be set for tomorrows clash with Leeds (apart from
    the fact that I haven't got a ticket!!!) with Fenwick having the full
    squad to choose from. Realistically I think we'll do well to get the
    draw and then whoop them back at Fratton Park, but ya never know...
    Super swede could do the business for us...
    
    Bong...
    Other news from Fratton Park...
    Bong...
    Pompey now owned by Australian national coach...
    Bong...
    
    13th February 1997
    
    Terry Venables now has the controlling interest in Portsmouth Football
    Club. He exercised his option to take control of the club with 51% of
    the shares. The rumour is that he was so impressed with the take up of
    the "Blue Army" membership scheme that he realised the support base was
    there . He has said that "I want to take them back to greatness. The
    sucess and commitment on the field is mirrored behind the scenes."
    
    How exactly he's going to do this being halfway around the world is
    anyones guess! He doesn't appear to have any money to put in to the
    club, makes me wonder why he wants to control it???
    
    Alen.
    

>    How exactly he's going to do this being halfway around the world is
>    anyones guess! He doesn't appear to have any money to put in to the
>    club, makes me wonder why he wants to control it???
 
>    Alen.
 
He is still based in the UK mainly because most of the Australian players play
in Europe.

Rgds, Steve 

    re -1
    
    Still doesn't explain his motivations, he doesn't have any money to put
    into the club. He doesn't appear to be doing any coaching... Scouting
    seems to be the only thing he's gonna do for us. This leaves us in the
    same position we've been in for years... A chairman who has no money to
    spend... $h1t ground, no fans!
    
    Alen.

    
    Leeds 2 - Portsmouth 3.
    
    Well well, would you believe it!! As promised the super swede delivers
    AGAIN, scoring one and making another. We were even confident enough to
    miss a penalty on purpose!!!
    
    3 - 1 up and cruising, and the ref decides to play 5 minutes of extra
    time! Leeds get one back, but it's all too late and the seasiders now
    have to face either Leicester or Chelsea at home, and I really hope
    it's Chelsea, 'cause I hate Leicester!
    
    Alen.
    
    Match report from the Times:
    Leeds crumble as Portsmouth expose flaws in foundations 
    
    BY DAVID MADDOCK 
    
    Leeds United ...2 Portsmouth ...3 
    
    WATCHING Leeds United brings to mind an observation from Pablo Picasso.
    "There's no such thing as a bad Picasso," he mused, "but some are less
    good than others." 
    
    Leeds, of course, do not bear comparison with the artist; not even to
    allow a tortured joke about blue periods. Juggle his words around,
    however, and you have a reasonable precis of their style, their
    mentality. There is no such thing as a good performance from them, just
    less bad ones. This was a very bad one indeed. 
    
    Portsmouth, of the Nationwide League first division, were technically
    and tactically too sophisticated for their apparently superior
    opponents. Yet Leeds had recorded five consecutive clean sheets before
    this FA Cup tie, promoting thoughts of Wembley. 
    
    Quite why such notions had gained serious currency was a question
    muttered by everyone at Elland Road on Saturday. The answer was simple
    enough, and was refreshingly given by Terry Fenwick, the Portsmouth
    manager. 
    
    "They are a side who can dominate and stifle away from home, because
    they are a big, physical team," he said. "But they are not so clever at
    home because here they have to create." 
    
    Before the tie, Lee Sharpe, one of Elland Road's more imaginative
    influences, said that their ploy in recent months has been to defend
    doggedly and hope to sneak a goal from a set-piece or a scramble. It is
    not pretty, but under the circumstances George Graham, the Leeds
    manager, found himself in, it was an effective survival route. 
    
    At Arsenal, Graham's sides were creative enough, but he puts in the
    mean-spirited defensive foundations first, and Leeds are still very
    much in that initial phase. Asked if he had, in recent weeks, merely
    papered over the cracks with defensive organisation, Graham's silence
    as he struggled for an answer indicated that he desperately wanted to
    say "yes", long before he diplomatically avoided answering the
    question. 
    
    Fenwick had come to the same conclusion, aided and abetted by Terry
    Venables, his club's new owner. He knew that Portsmouth's best
    opportunity of progressing to the quarter-finals was to ensure they did
    not descend to Leeds's scrappy, physical level. 
    
    The manner in which they avoided such crudity was surprising, even to
    their manager. Portsmouth battled all right, but when they won the
    ball, their passing was on a different plane to their opponents. Swift
    and incisive, they manoeuvred the Leeds defence into positions so
    uncomfortable that Molenaar, the previously impressive new signing at
    centre half, was reduced to beating the ground in frustration. 
    
    The power and persistence up front of Lee Bradbury and Mathias Svensson
    was invigorating, but it was the midfield control exercised by the
    neat, experienced Hillier and the exuberant Hall that allowed
    Portsmouth to dictate the contest. With Alan McLoughlin, before his
    injury, and then the impressive young Igoe offering support, it was the
    visiting midfield that appeared to display FA Carling Premiership
    quality. 
    
    Portsmouth's game-plan was simple: draw the central defenders wide to
    allow space for the midfield players to run into. Bradbury moved from
    the centre after seven minutes to collect a throw from Simpson and
    cross into the void he had left, where McLoughlin, steaming in, headed
    home unchallenged. 
    
    Bradbury again caused problems to win a penalty after Kelly handled his
    header. The problem, though, was that McLoughlin, the regular
    penalty-taker, had limped out of the action and Simpson saw his kick
    saved by Martyn. 
    
    Such profligacy appeared ominous, and after the break Leeds equalised
    when Wallace produced his side's one moment of real skill to send Lee
    Bowyer scuttling into the box to lift a shot calmly over Knight. With
    38 minutes remaining, the initiative was briefly with the home side,
    but not the talent. 
    
    It was Svensson, running wide, who caused the damage, first by cutting
    inside the bemused Molenaar to drive fiercely beyond Martyn, and then
    crossing to allow Bradbury a close-range shot under the body of the
    Leeds goalkeeper. 
    
    Even a Bowyer header in the fifth minute of stoppage time could not
    disguise Portsmouth's palpable superiority. 
    
    LEEDS UNITED (3-5-2): N Martyn � R Molenaar, G Halle, L Radebe � G
    Kelly, L Bowyer, M Jackson (sub: I Rush, 78min), C Palmer, A Dorigo � B
    Deane, R Wallace. 
    
    PORTSMOUTH (3-5-2): A Knight � A Thomson, R Perrett, A Awford � R
    Pethick, A McLoughlin (sub: S Igoe, 20), P Hall, D Hillier, F Simpson
    (sub: A Dobson, 90) � L Bradbury, M Svensson (sub: M Allen, 88). 
    
    Referee: P Alcock. 

Interesting to think back to Graham and Fenwick's playing days - which one 
goes on to manage the scrappy defensive side, and which one the creative 
passing team?

Congrats to Portsmouth - looking forward to the final against Wrexham!

g

    West Brom 0 - Portsmouth 2.
    
    		  Hillier 27
    		  Burton 45
    
    This is now 7 wins on the trot. Our league position is a much more
    meaningful 8th, more meaningful as the teams around us have played the
    same number of games or -+1. We're still just the one point away from
    the playoffs.
    
    The good thing about this result was that two players got their first
    goal of the season...
    
    Alen

    Portsmouth 1 - Sheffield Utd 1.
    
    A game of posibilities on both sides, a draw probably being the fairest
    result. A win would've taken us up to 7th, the draw sees us in 9th
    place. 8 games unbeaten... A very good run for Pompey. The next game is
    against a team who've got a little run of their own going... Man City.
    
    Still, just a few points off the playoffs, with games running out...
    Don't ya just lurve footy!
    
    Alen.
    
    Report from Nationwide:
    
    FA Cup quarter-finalists Portsmouth were forced to settle for a share
    of the points as Norwegian international Jan Aage Fjortoft claimed his
    fifth goal in as many matches for Sheffield United.
    
    Portsmouth took the lead after 19 minutes when Paul Hall received a
    pass from Lee Bradbury and blasted home in convincing fashion.
    
    Several fine saves from Pompey's veteran goalkeeper Alan Knight showed
    the sign of things to come from promotion contenders United, but
    Bradbury could have scored for the home side when he hit a post in the
    44th minute.
    
    In the second-half it was a different story as United pressed for an
    equaliser which came in the 54th minute from the Fjortoft.
    
    A long throw caught the Portsmouth defence napping and Fjortoft struck
    the ball home with a left foot shot to beat Knight at his near post.
    
    Knight was forced to make a brilliant save in the 69th minute to
    prevent David White from grabbing a winner and Hall had a fine shot
    saved by Alan Kelly in the 84th minute.
    
    

    A 1-1 draw with Man City in the week, not the result we needed if we're
    gonna be serious about the playoffs. Still, an away point. This leaves
    us 11th in the league, still not far away in points terms, but teams
    above us, and the teams below are not far behind. This is really a
    tight division, as it is most years. I suspect things will not start
    to pan out for a few weeks yet. Apart of course from Bolton, and prolly
    Wolves.
    
    So now things are set up nicely for a visit of the Londenners innit?
    Chelsea come down to Fratton on Sunday. Live on Sky at about 1.15, no
    predictions from me, I just hope it's a good game (and that we stuff em
    4-0!)
    
    Alen.

    Well hey the prediction in -1 wasn't that far out was it?
    
    Portsmouth 1 Chelsea 4
    
    No complaints, we were made to look like a very ordinary 1st division
    side. The first few minutes were positive enough, then we seemed to be
    a man short in midfield all the time, with some truly woeful defending.
    Our strikers hardly seemed to be in the game.
    
    This was our first loss in 10 games, and presumably the club made some
    money from this little run, so things could be worse. The question now
    is how will the players react to this?
    
    Alen.

    Pompey bounce back!!!
    
    After the stuffing from Chelsea Portsmouth keep their playoff hopes
    alive with a good win in t'North. We are now 9th in the league, with
    two games in hand on the teams directly above us, now I know this
    counting chickens 'n all, BUT, if we win both of them we'll be up to
    5th place...
    
    Match report from Nationwide:
    
    Huddersfield 1 - Pompey 3
    
    Ten-man Portsmouth scored three times in four minutes to complete an
    amazing fightback and keep their Nationwide Division One promotion
    play-off bid on track.
    
    Pompey seemed to be suffering a hangover from their FA Cup defeat to
    Chelsea last Sunday when midfielder David Hillier was sent off for his
    second bookable offence.
    
    Worse was to come a minute later when Marcus Stewart headed home his
    11th of the season for Huddersfield.
    
    Former Arsenal man Hillier, booked for encroaching at a free kick in
    the ninth minute, was dismissed for a foul on Paul Reid in the 34th
    minute.
    
    Within a minute, Stewart had put Huddersfield in front with a diving
    header from a Robbie Ryan cross.
    
    Portsmouth, with just the Chelsea defeat in the last 11 matches, looked
    beaten but in the second half shocked Huddersfield with three goals in
    four minutes.
    
    Substitute Sammy Igoe started the scoring spree after 57 minutes when
    he crashed home a dipping shot from just inside the box.
    
    His effort inspired Portsmouth and winger Paul Hall struck twice in the
    61st and the 62nd minutes to put the game beyond Huddersfield.
    
    Town, with just one win in the last nine matches, threw on three
    substitutes, including 16-year-old Delroy Facey for his debut, but it
    was too late and this defeat leaves them staring relegation in the
    face.
    
    

    
    Pompey lost away to QPR, which now sees us 12th in the league. As noted
    in the QPR note though the biggest shame of the day was the violence,
    which was apparently quite bad. Not segregating the crowds is surely
    asking for trouble, I know there's no excuse for the idiots who want to
    attach themselves to football and cause problems, but grounds have to
    be a bit more pragmatic surely. There were lots of arrests with the FA
    launching an enquiry today. I wasn't there but apparently it spilled
    onto the pitch which was why the game had to be held up (the people
    getting onto the pitch were trying to avoid it I thing, people from the
    family enclosures). Oh dear, how very sad, I've seen agro before at
    Pompey, and I've also seen Pompey fans cause agro away from home, most
    notably the last game of last season.
    
    This does seem to have been the weekend for ar$ehole$ though, with
    trouble at Aston Villa V Blackburn ???? And I was listening to a report
    on the radio driving home last night that said (I think it was Holland)
    two sets of fans were ringing each other on mobile phones to arrange a
    mass brawl, the end result of which was someone being stabbed and tons
    more injured!!! The obvious question here being, well if they want to
    fight that's idiotic enough, but what does it have to do with
    football???
    
    
    Anyways, report on the match (as it was) from the Nationwide web site:
    
    QPR 2 - Pompey 1.
    
    Crowd trouble marred this 2-1 QPR victory at Loftus Road as the
    Nationwide first division match was held up for 15 minutes while
    police attempted to restore order.
    
    Referee Kevin Lynch was forced to send the players back to the dressing
    room after 53 minutes when fighting broke out between rival
    fans in one corner and supporters spilled on to the pitch to get away
    from the trouble.
    
    There had been no sign of the trouble to come in the first half as
    Portsmouth grabbed the lead against the run of play after just 18
    minutes.
    
    The lively Paul Hall stormed into the box after a sweeping move and his
    centre gave Lee Bradbury the simplest of tasks to score his
    13th goal of the season.
    
    Rangers, who had already missed good chances through John Spencer and
    Sampdoria-bound Danny Dichio, were further hampered
    when Trevor Sinclair limped off after 25 minutes.
    
    But it was Sinclair's replacement Paul Murray who was to grab the
    equaliser right on half-time.
    
    Murray collected the ball on halfway and sprinted 30 yards before
    curling a superb shot past Alan Knight and into the corner.
    
    The game had hardly got back into its stride when trouble flared on the
    terraces and the teams were hauled off. But on the restart it was
    QPR who looked the more determined.
    
    Knight saved from Gavin Peacock and Adrian Whitbread had to desperately
    head Andy Impey's cross over the top as Dichio waited.
    
    Peacock then had the ball in the net on 64 minutes when he latched on
    to Spencer's pass only for it to be ruled out for offside.
    
    Portsmouth were further handicapped when defender Robbie Pethick was
    sent off for his second bookable offence after bringing down
    Spencer and just eight minutes later the little Scotsman nicked the
    winner.
    
    Spencer stole the ball in the box and from an acute angle slipped it
    into the corner for his 12th goal of the season.
    
    There was no way back for Pompey from there and Rangers could have
    added to their tally through Spencer and Peacock before the
    end.
    

    
    Oh dear what a shame, the boys from Reading have been beaten by Pompey,
    AGAIN! Last nights win sees us move up four places to 8th place. Two
    points outside the playoffs, with a game in hand over Ipswich (6th
    place) and two games in hand over the team in 7th (Port Vale). The
    problem with this league is that it's soooooo close, that it only takes
    one or two loses and you can drop off the pace back to mid table
    nothingness. Still we're doing much better than we have done in a
    looong time.
    
    Alen.
    
    Anyways, for all you Reading fans out there (bwahahahahaha) match
    report from Nationwide:
    
    Portsmouth 1 Reading 0   Tue 25 March 1997   Fratton Park
    
    Paul Hall claimed victory for Pompey with his 11th goal of the season
    to send Terry Fenwick's side four places up the division one table.
    
    Hall's late strike condemned Reading to defeat and kept alive
    Portsmouth's hopes of reaching the divison one play-offs.
    
    A corner from Alan McLoughlin caused confusion in the Reading defence
    as it was headed back across the face of goal by Russell Perrett to the
    feet of Hall.
    
    On-loan Australian international goal keeper Steve Mautone produced a
    fine point-blank save to deny Hall's first effort but the little
    mid-field player kept his composure to turn in the rebound at the
    second attempt.
    
    Royals' player manager Mick Gooding had the best chance of the game for
    his side in the 42nd minute when he was denied by a post.
    
    Gooding clipped the ball over advancing goal keeper Alan Knight with
    the outside of his right foot and thought his effort had gone over the
    line but it clipped the inside of Knight's right-hand post and was
    cleared to safety.
    
    Australian international Andy Bernal was lucky to escape his fourth
    sending off of the season following a 44th minute clash with Hall as
    the Fratton Park player sprinted through on goal.
    
    Referee Mike Brandwood adjudged Hall was running away from goal after
    he beat last man Bernal much to the fury of Portsmouth players who
    thought the Reading man should have been shown a red card.
    

    Alen,
    
    Four places with three points just proves how close this is going to
    be at both top and bottom (B*lt*n excluded). This puts Pompey on 56
    points with Reading on 50 so maybe I would be cautious in my gloating!
    
    
    From what I've heard and read it sounds like a balanced game and Terry 
    Fenwick admitted that Reading were a stubborn side and he was pleased
    to have scraped three points from this vital game.  
    
    
    				Stretch.
    

    Re -1.
    
    I know the league is dammm close, as I said, it's very easy to drop
    into mid table nothingness after 2 bad results.
    
    As for gloating, who me? Gloat over the results Portsmouth have had
    against Reading this season???
    
    0-0 Draw at Smell Park, the most exciting thing being the players punch
    up.
    
    3-0 At Fratton, you get dumped out of the FA Cup.
    
    1-0 At Fratton, and I'd call that a pretty good return for the season!
    
    Me? Gloat? Surely not missus! Bwahahahahaha.
    
    Alen.

    
    Alen,
    
    Feel free to gloat away; it always feels good when you put one over the
    Big Boys.
    
    
    j.

    Re -1.
    
    Laugh, I nearly fell off my chair. Reading? One of the big boys?
    Oooooh, I feel soo much better knowing we've done well against a
    footballing giant like Reading this season, and I thought the Leeds
    result was a good one! :)
    
    Alen.

    
    
    > Oooooh, I feel soo much better knowing we've done well against a
    > footballing giant like Reading this season
    
    See? What did I tell you?
    
    Jeff
    

    Arghhhhhhhhh.
    
    A frustrating Easter weekend for Portsmouth fans. Saturday saw us give
    Bradford a whopping (3-1 at Fratton Park) and it moved us up into the
    playoff positions for the first time this season. Bradford had a player
    sent off after 11 minutes for not moving back 10 yards at a free kick,
    then they took the lead with ten men!!! (Deflected free kick).
    Portsmouth then decided that playing a bit of footy might help, and
    scored 3 goals before half time. The Bradford manager managed to talk
    himself into getting sent off at half time (didn't stop him being on
    the touchline halfway through the 2nd half).
    
    Yesterday Portsmouth visited Southend, and should've got a result or at
    least a draw, but noooo, we blew it and lost 2-1. This result dropped
    us back out of the playoff zone, down into 8th place. A draw would've
    taken us up to fifth (damm damm damm damm). Anyways, it can still be
    done, the teams around us have played more games.
    
    So the run in goes like this...
    
    Portsmouth V Grimsby   5/4/97
    Grimsby are in the drop zone, and are going to be gagging for the win.
    
    Portsmouth V Tranmere  12/4/97
    Tranmere are only 3 or 4 points away from the playoffs.
    
    Charlton V Portsmouth  19/4/97
    Charlton are mid table, nothing left for their season methinks.
    
    Portsmouth V Ipswich   26/4/97
    Ipswich are 1 place below us, and 1 point behind.
    
    Wolves V Portsmouth    04/5/97   (My birthday!!!)
    Wolves appear to have blown the automagic promotion, and are now 3rd.
    
    So no easy run in at all!!! As of today then, the 1st Division league
    table looks a tad like this:
    
    
                    P   W  D  L   F   A Pts
    Bolton          40 24 12  4  86  48  84
    Barnsley        39 19 13  7  64  44  70
    ---------------------------------------
    Wolverhampton   40 19  9 12  57  43  66
    Sheff Utd       41 18 11 12  69  49  65
    Port Vale       41 15 15 11  51  48  60
    Crystal Palace  38 16 11 11  68  39  59
    ---------------------------------------
    Norwich         41 16 11 14  59  60  59
    Portsmouth      40 17  8 15  51  45  59
    Ipswich         40 15 13 12  55  49  58
    QPR             41 15 12 14  55  55  57
    Stoke           40 16  9 15  46  50  57
    Tranmere        40 15 11 14  54  50  56
    Swindon         41 15  7 19  52  63  52
    Oxford Utd      41 14  9 18  57  59  51
    Charlton        39 14  9 16  46  54  51
    Birmingham      39 13 12 14  43  45  51
    Reading         40 13 11 16  49  57  50
    Man City        38 14  8 16  48  49  50
    Huddersfield    40 12 12 16  44  56  48
    West Brom       40 11 14 15  61  66  47
    Bradford        40 10 11 19  42  64  41
    ---------------------------------------
    Grimsby         39  9 12 18  52  71  39
    Oldham          39  9 11 19  44  53  38
    Southend        41  8 13 20  39  75  37
    
    
    Alen.

    One of Portsmouth's Directors resigned at the weekend, I think he was
    the financial director. Anyways I read on Smellytext last night that
    the FA is launching a probe into financial dealings at Portsmouth. The
    guy they're investigating is I think the same guy that Venables dealt
    with at Tottenham, can't remember his name though.
    
    I should've noted the guys name. I can't find anything in the papers
    (on-line) versions. Does anyone know anything about this, I suppose if
    it was going to be in the papers it would have been in yesterdays.
    
    Alen.

    THe guy involved with Venables in running Portsmouth is Eddie Ashby,
    aparently Et 'bent' Tel decided to call the FA from Hungary where he
    was preparing the Aussie squad, anyways the FA seemed happy that
    Portsmouth is being run properly so no Financial investigations for
    now.
    
    Back on the footy front...
    
    Pompey beat Grimsby at the weekend to move back into the playoff zone.
    The end of season looms large now, I think we basically need to win all
    of our remaining games to make the playoffs, Crystal Palace have a lot
    of games in hand (crap home form though) and could jump over us if they
    get some points.
    
    The top bit of the league table now looks like this:
    
                   P  W  D  L  F  A  W  D  L  F  A  Pts
    Bolton        41 16  4  1  52 19 9  8  3  36 30  87 
    Barnsley      40 11  4  5  35 19 8  9  3  29 26  70 
    ---------------------------------------------------
    Wolverhampton 41  9  4  7  26 21 1  5  5  34 24  69 
    Sheff Utd     42 11  5  5  42 23 7  6  8  28 28  65 
    Port Vale     42  8  9  4  32 24 8  6  7  21 24  63 
    Portsmouth    41 11  4  5  27 18 7  4  0  25 27  62 
    ---------------------------------------------------
    Ipswich       41 11  6  3  40 22 5  7  9  19 27  61 
    Cr Palace     39  8  5  6  32 18 8  7  5  37 22  60 
    Norwich       42  8  9  4  26 18 8  2  1  35 45  59 
    Tranmere      41 10  7  4  39 24 6  4  0  18 26  59 
    Stoke         41 13  3  5  30 21 3  7  0  17 30  58 
    
    Port Vale have to be careful, as do Portsmouth, I think Stoke have
    probably blown it. Palace should still make the playoffs, the other
    places come down to who holds on best in the run in.
    
    Alen.
    
    Match report from the weekend games then (from the Nationwide web site):
    
    Portsmouth 1 Grimsby Town 0   Sat 05 April 1997   Fratton Park
    
    Jimmy Carter's first league goal of the season nudged Portsmouth back
    into the first division's top six at Fratton Park.
    
    Former Arsenal and Liverpool winger Carter raced on to a long pass from
    Paul Hall in the 55th minute, before shooting wide of goalkeeper Jason
    Pearcey.
    
    But Portsmouth were made to work hard for their win, with a strong wind
    causing problems for both teams.
    
    Portsmouth goalkeeper Alan Knight made a good save in the fourth
    minute, from a fierce free-kick shot by Nicky Southall, but the home
    side had to wait until the 27th minute before creating a first chance
    at the other end.
    
    Then leading scorer Lee Bradbury dragged his shot across the face of
    the goal, with only Pearcey to beat.
    
    Grimsby only came alive once Carter had put Pompey ahead, and then big
    striker Jason Lee missed two good heading chances to equalise.
    
    In the 63rd minute, Lee headed wide from a free-kick by Gary Childs and
    then failed to take advantage of a chance created for him from the
    right by Kevin Jobling.
    
    Bradbury had a goalbound effort at the other end headed to safety by
    Mark Lever, as Pompey held on to three precious points.
    
    They had Adrian Whitbread and Bradbury booked for first-half fouls,
    while Grimsby's central defender Graham Rodger was also shown a yellow
    card, for a 71st-minute challenge.
    

    Oh dear.
    
    Portsmouth lost to Tranmere at the weekend, and this saw us drop out of
    the playoff zone back to 9th. Tranmere deserved the win, with a touch
    of the "I know, shall we let this player have a free header from a
    corner" routine for the first goal. Second goal, was our keeprs fault,
    caught in no mans land (about 15 yards of the goal line) a long through
    pass and the Tranmere player had the easy job of lobbing him. Then the
    fun and games started, the Tranmere keeper must be having an affair
    with the referee, because he started a 20 man brawl with a DISGUSTING
    two foot challenge, very dangerous. The punches were flying all round,
    including the Tranmere keeper needing his head plastering up, all this
    and the ref didn't book anyone, no free kicks, the game just started up
    again with a drop ball, unbelievable! The worst thing of the game was a
    Tranmere player absolutely taking out Matty Svensson, supposedly with
    his head but from where I was sat it looked much more like his elbow
    (other people sat in the same stand as me also thought it was an
    elbow). As soon as he hit the ground he was obviously out of it,
    concussion at the least. The game was stopped for about 10 minutes,
    with paramedics rushing on to the pitch. Out come the neck braces and
    everyone is thinking Oh shit! But fortunately they weren't needed, he
    was taken off to hospital immidiately (out through the turnstiles,
    didn't even bother with the changing room) and has a suspected
    cheekbone fracture, so don't know how long he's going to be out for.
    Again no free kick, no booking for the Tranmere player instead the ref
    allows Tranmere to bring on Alldo in his place (whilst Svensson is on
    the deck), and the game starts again with a throw in!!!
    
    A good 3rd goal from Tranmere then a Hillier pile driver from way
    outside the box in injury time (about 10 minutes worth!!!)
    
    Pompey have 4 games left now, 2 home, 2 away. To make the playoffs I
    think we need 13 points, anything less and I don't think we'll do it.
    This is going to be a very tall order concidering the teams we have
    left to play (Charlton, Barnsley, Ipswich & Wolves). We're 9th on goal
    difference only, and if we lose out on goal difference I may have to be
    sick and cry somewhere!
    
    Alen.
    
    The top of the table now look as follows:
    
                 P    W    D    L     F    A   W    D     L     F    A  
    Pts
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 
    Bolton      43   17    4    1    56   19  10    8     3    38   31   93 
    Barnsley    41   12    4    5    39   19   8    9     3    29   26   73 
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 
    Wolves      42    9    4    7    26   21  11    5     6    35   26   69 
    Sheff Utd   43   12    5    5    45   23   7    6     8    28   28   68 
    Port Vale   43    9    9    4    35   26   8    6     7    21   24   66 
    Ipswich     42   11    6    3    40   22   6    7     9    23   27   64 
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 
    Norwich     43    9    9    4    28   18   8    2    11    35   45   62 
    Tranmere    42   10    7    4    39   24   7    4    10    21   27   62 
    Portsmouth  42   11    4    6    28   21   7    4    10    25   27   62 
    Crystal P   41    8    5    6    32   18   8    7     7    37   26   60 
    
    

    Charlton 2 - Pompey 1.
    
    Oh bugger!
    
    Well that's more or less it for the playoffs then, not impossible
    still, but we're getting into the realms of needing other sides to
    loose one, and to be honest with games against Wolves (3rd), Barnsley
    (2nd) and Ipswich (5th) I can't see us getting much more than 3 points
    from those 3 games. If we win the next one (Barnsley) then we're up to
    7th one point out of it, so it could go down to the last game still,
    but one more loss and that's it, and this is the week to decide things.
    Tuesday night at home to Barnsley, and Friday night at home to Ipswich.
    
    Alen.

    
    Portsmouth 4 Barnsley 2   Tue 22 April 1997   Fratton Park
    
    Oooooooo, getting closer! We're now up to 7th place, one point out of
    the playoffs, damn I have no nails left at all. Ipswich on Friday
    night, a game we have to win, and then hope some results on Satruday go
    our way, but basically I think it's a race between 4 teams to make the
    last playoff place, with Crystal Palace looking favourite at the
    moment.
    
    The following match report from Nationwide then:
    
    
    Portsmouth striker Lee Bradbury scored his first hat-trick as
    Barnsley's automatic promotion hopes received a setback.
    
    Rampant Pompey revived their own play-off chances after two successive
    defeats to move into seventh place with two matches remaining, while
    Barnsley still need five points from their last two games to be certain
    of going up.
    
    Barnsley disappointed after a promising start and fell behind in the
    28th minute when Arjan De Zeeuw handled the ball in the penalty area
    and Alan McLoughlin scored with the spot-kick.
    
    Barnsley were still reeling when Bradbury added the second goal in the
    37th minute, finishing a move on the right involving David Hillier and
    Paul Hall with a close-range header.
    
    And Barnsley were three goals down in the 49th minute when Sammy Igoe
    broke free on the right and Bradbury had the simple task of scoring
    from close range.
    
    Only then did Barnsley start to show the sort of form which has made
    them favourites to join Bolton in the Premiership.
    
    Neil Redfearn reduced their arrears to 3-1 in the 62nd minute with a
    right-foot shot having cut in from the left.
    
    And Redfearn ensured a pulsating finish by hammering in his 18th goal
    of the season from the edge of the box after substitute Martin Bullock
    had opened up the Pompey defence.
    
    Barnsley were searching desperately for an equaliser when Portsmouth
    broke away in injury time for Bradbury to complete his hat-trick. 
    
    
    P.S. Does anyone actually read the stuff I put in here every week?