The Opposition View – Portsmouth

In the wake of yesterday’s 1-0 defeat at home to Portsmouth, here are some views on the game from Pompey’s manager Richie Barker, goalscorer Ryan Taylor and a selection of their fans.

“I’m certainly delighted with the result, but in terms of the performance, we’ve played better and lost,” said Barker.

“I thought there were certain aspects of the game that were excellent, I thought defensively we were fairly sound, and I’m pleased to come away with another clean sheet and obviously the three points.”

When asked if he felt his side were lucky on the night, the Pompey boss replied: “Maybe once or twice tonight, but you earn your own luck at times, and the desire, the workrate and the ability to throw themselves in front of things meant that we rode our own luck but we got it.”

“I thought Trevor Carson’s reaction save in the first half was fantastic.”

On the controversial subjects of the penalty and Wycombe’s disallowed goal, Barker said: “From where I was it looked like it was a penalty. I heard their bench saying there weren’t too many appeals but I’ve seen them given. I also thought there was a foul on Trevor (Carson) in the last minute.”

Match winner Taylor said: “I have not taken a senior penalty before so I was a bit nervous but I slotted it away. I saw the keeper move early so he made my mind up for me.”


The Pompey fans were simply relieved.

The following extracts are taken from the pompey chimes, truebluearmy, fratton faithful, not606 and the Portsmouth News.

pfc_blues wrote:
‘There have been times this season when we have played better and lost but who cares. A win is a win and that is the most important thing.’


P1ssTake_Peg wrote:
‘I think Carson should take a lot of the credit for keeping us in it with some crucial saves.’


lovedeanblue wrote:
‘Really enjoyed tonight but have to admit injury time was a nightmare. I kept remembering what happened at FP when they scored deep into time added on. I certainly feel happier tonight than I have for a long time. RB has produced a far better organised team than the one he inherited. One question… Is there a worst ground to get out of in Britain? ‘


Selsey Bill wrote:
‘Well, we’ve played far better this season and lost or drawn and if I was a Wycombe supporter I’d feel a little aggrieved this morning. I’m surprised they are so low in league as they look far better than teams higher up and play some good football at times.

‘The first half was a very scrappy affair. Trevor Carson made three or four excellent saves, one of which was truly world class. The hosts had obviously been told to ‘have some shots’ as two of them were long distant from outside the area.’

‘Within 4 minutes of the restart we were awarded what seemed like a very iffy penalty. Admittedly, the action was taking place down the other end of the pitch from the away supporters, but there were no shouts from our support, or claims from our players.’

‘As the game seemed to inch towards full time, they piled on the pressure, and actually ‘scored’ a goal in injury time, but the referee deemed one of their players to have fouled one of ours and it wasn’t given. Yet again, I have to report that the referee was very poor throughout, but two of the most important decisions he made in the match, played massively in our favour so I won’t dwell on his performance.’


Wessexblue wrote:
‘A real backs to the wall win. In the dying seconds of the match, how that ball didn’t cross the goal line, I cannot guess, but once the ball had gone, there were several players left on the deck in the goal; it looked like a battlefield!’


3rd eye wrote:
‘Our goalie made some fantastic saves tonight – WW had more shots on goal than us but we hit a bit of luck for a change.’


Gerry Hatrick wrote:
‘Hard work will get us so far but if you give it away as much as we did last night, eventually the opposition will score – and but for a brilliant display by Trevor we probably would have lost.’


Pompey Penguin wrote:
‘Once again we looked like the better 11 players, but were unable to impose ourselves on the game. The win was the important thing, and hopefully will do something to repair the fragile confidence of the team. Not often you see Portsmouth win away in the rain! It’s not easy in those conditions against a team that pumps the ball into the penalty box towards a big lump like Doherty at every corner/free kick/long throw.’

‘Carson was my MOTM. His saves, especially the one-handed push away, in the first half were critical. We probably should have been a goal behind at half-time, and I don’t think we would have come back from that. He looked pretty bashed up by the end, having thrown his body in the way during both goal-line scrambles and tried to deal with some of the crosses.’


Wooperts_duck wrote:
‘Wycombe’s disallowed goal looked like a Carson error, but referee awards us a free kick. Our luck seems to be changing at last.’


pomp’n circumstance wrote:
‘We won ‘ugly’ last night, It’ll do the lads a power of good and I congratulate them on sticking to their task. They’ve not had the rub of the green lately and last night the ref smiled on them. It was a strange decision, Foggy drew the tackle and I think even he was surprised when the ref pointed to the spot.

Carson kept us in the game with a couple of blinding saves, Wycombe looked better than us early on and played the better football. Don’t quite see why the the ref ruled out their last minute ‘goal’ and Wycombe will feel they didn’t deserve to lose – they’re right, but last night the fates conspired against them and I’m ruddy glad they did!’


chrispfcds wrote:
‘We deserved this win after Wycombe nicked a point of us at Fratton.’


Next Game: Bury v Wycombe – Sat 1st Feb – 3.00pm