Pompey 1 – 1 Toon

First of all, congratulations Middlesbrough. The game pretty much decided in the first few minutes after one goal from open play and a (genuine) penalty. With any luck we’ll still be in the Champion’s League next season, though!

As for our league match… This has to be some kind of record. Another 1-1 away draw. And, frankly, I’m doubtful that we deserve that.

We played sloppily, certainly not to the standard of a team looking to enter the top-level European tournament next season. Portsmouth were determined and gritty, pretty much on a level with us.

The support, though. That’s a different story. Portsmouth have one of the noisiest travelling groups of the lot, a fact emphasised by some willock on a bugle (or trumpet or horn or something), and another with a drum. At Fratton Park, the brass instrument is still audible is is some form of percussion. It did sound more like two pieces of scaffolding being bashed together, however. Of three sides of the ground filled with home fans, one made a tremendous amount of noise (the TY European Stand, opposite us visitors).

We put up a bloody poor show. I’ve been to a fair number of away matches, and the crowd at Portsmouth were, frankly, ****. Barely a full chorus of any song, and even then I’d say no more than 10% of the fans joined in. What a disgrace. I know the team weren’t up to much and that both televised games today (the cup final and Leeds v Liverpool) were more entertaining, but we’re supposed to be supporters. I don’t think we could have supported a small balsa-wood sculpture today. Bloody awful.

I think Portsmouth deserve a re-wording of a classic football chant:

**** ground, great fans.

Well, let’s face it. Four portaloos (2 each, male and female) does not a great welcome make. Good luck staying up, Pompey!