Pompey: Mid-table mediocrity?

Thursday, 03/03/2011

by S.J. Maskell, Shoot's Portsmouth blogger

There is talk at Fratton Park of Nugent’s last ditch screamer against Derby a month ago being the new ‘Mendes moment’ for Pompey.

Most fans will recall that screamer from Pedro. It started the ‘Great Escape’ of the 2005-6 season that saw us staying in the Premier League. It was the precursor to two years of the heady heights of success before it all came crashing down in the aftermath of Sacha Gaydamak’s personal credit crunch.

After the 2-0 victory over Scunthorpe, our record from that moment runs DWWWWW. Sixteen points from eighteen. With five clean sheets in a row. In our next three matches we face Sheffield United, Bristol City and Middlesbrough.

It is difficult not to be optimistic. The resurgence of our players’ confidence under the tight-knit team selection problems that beset Steve Cotterill is the most encouraging sign that we can be so. Goals have come from Nugent, Kitson, Ward, Kanu and Mokoena. Rocha, Halford, De Laet and Hreidarsson seem to have formed a good understanding at the back. And the fans have found their voice as the players give them something to shout about.

We can criticise that the football isn’t pretty. We can point at the fact that we seem to play second-half better than we do first. (Maybe Steve keeps the hairdryer handy!) We can pick at the luck we are riding. (No one except the ref saw anything wrong with Scunthorpe’s disallowed goal.) We can fret about injuries and suspensions leaving us short of choices for the team. We can even (if we’re feeling masochistic) worry about the ownership situation.

When a team digs in and brings up result after result in the face of abnormal difficulties, then we remember why we keep going back for more. When the goals are as memorable as both Mendes’ and Nugent’s were, then we realise – this is as good as it gets. That moment when the ball crosses the line creates an indescribable experience that we all share. Where else can you get that?

This Saturday Pompey’s twelfth man is needed in legions to keep this momentum going. Three more points against struggling Sheffield United and we can justify feeling safe. An intimidating atmosphere at Fratton and this game is ours. This is what its all about.

Mid-table mediocrity here we come!

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