The South Coast Derby Southampton v Portsmouth Match Report

The South Coast Derby Southampton v Portsmouth Match Report

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Portsmouth restore a sense of local pride as they emphatically trounce their neighbours in their own backyardI cannot put into words how good a feeling it was on Saturday to hear the referees final whistle. As a Portsmouth fan I have an endured a lot this season. Only on Wednesday did the club look as though they were going out of existence, and that threat still remains. Yet winning 4-1 at Southampton was as good a feeling Ive ever felt being a Portsmouth supporter.I was slightly nervous about the game. I had been fortunate enough to get a ticket without queueing up in the freezing cold weather. Southampton were the in-form side. It was an FA Cup tie, a competition made for upsets. Pompey had never won at St. Marys and the whole scenario was just not looking good.Neverthele s I travelled to Southampton early Saturday morning full of hope that something special would happen that day. I wasnt too be disappointed.While walking through Southampton I experienced one of the most bizarre feelings Ive ever felt, an involuntary hatred towards a large number of innocent people and in this scenario, they were the Southampton fans.A football rivalry can do strange things to your normal style of thinking. All common-sense goes out of the window. You feel the need to establish yourself and show your superiority, and for some fans thats off the pitch as well as on it.When I arrived at the stadium the atmosphere was intense. You could cut the tension with a knife. Southampton fans were already in fine voice, gladly mocking Pompey and their financial state of affairs. Although I hate to admit it, Portsmouth fans were overshadowed.However, despite their good atmosphere, seeing certain Saints fans swearing and spitting towards the away section was almost laughable. But nevermind, Portsmouths on-field display soon showed the difference in quality between the two teams.Southampton started the better of the two sides, hustling and bustling Joe Mullen Women Jersey the Portsmouth players, giving them little time on the ball.Striker Papa Waigo had the first real opportunity of the game, connecting with a Ricky Lambert cro s which David James did well to scramble away. It was poor defending by Portsmouth and Southampton really should have took the lead.The away side were restrained from an attacking viewpoint with little being created to trouble keeper Kelvin Davis.Then out of nowhere, like a bolt of lightning, midfielder Jamie OHara produced a dipping shot from outside the area, producing a stunning save from Davis which saw the ball tipped over the bar.With half-an-hour of the game gone, James produced yet another calamity-moment when he dropped Lamberts corner onto Radhi Jaidis head. Fortunately for Portsmouth, defender Jaidi was taken by surprise and headed over.Southampton were proving to be dangerous from set-pieces and came close once again before half-time through defender Wayne Thomas.Through another Lambert corner Thomas was able to connect yet James was able to produce a well-timed save, which he knew little about, that blocked Thomas header.Portsmouth should have needed little motivation. This past season has been one of the worst in the clubs 112-year history. As midfielder OHara would later say, the club needed to give something back to the fans.As the match reached half-time however, Portsmouth looked unlikely to score and a Southampton goal looked inevitable.Within the opening minutes of the second-half, Southampton midfielder Adam Lallana saw his header somehow pushed away by the reaching hands of David James.This would prove to be a turning point for Portsmouth.New life had been ignited into the Portsmouth side, with strikers Aruna Dindane and John Utaka going close to taking the lead for Pompey soon after.Despite an improved second-half performance, Grant introduced striker Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, replacing defensive midfielder Angelos Basinas.Abeyie would provide the width Portsmouth were desperately mi sing. Southampton fans mocked him as he came on, shouting, Who?! unanimously. They would soon find out who he was.The former Arsenal youth broke the deadlock after 66 minutes, after being given enough space inside the area to produce, what could be described as a Henry-esque finish, curling the ball low and precise into Davis bottom-right-hand corner.Portsmouth fans were in dreamland and the celebrations that followed were memorable to say the least. Substitute Frederic Piquionne, who was just about to come on, ran onto the pitch jumping with joy to celebrate with his fellow teammates.However, celebrations were short-lived. Vladimir Tarasenko Women Jersey Within minutes Pompey conceded a free-kick just outside their penalty area. Striker Lambert was able to head Dan Hardings in-swinging free-kick without little challenge for his 24th goal of the season.It was reminiscent of typical Pompey. Getting your hopes up only to be disappointed. From my own view, I withheld the pe simistic view of Lets hold on for a replay.Many would have considered the momentum to have now lied with Southampton, yet that wasnt to be.Portsmouth struck on the break after Abeyie played in Dindane, who gladly chipped the ball over the quickly-approaching Kelvin Davis.The dream was back on.As Southampton went all-out-attack in the hope of a second equaliser, Belhadj was sent through on goal after an exquisite volleyed ball from OHara. His pace and composure were too much for the home defence, as the Algerian celebrated his first ever FA Cup goal.With eight minutes of the game remaining, Portsmouth looked to be likely winners. OHara all but confirmed this a few minutes after Belhadjs third adding his own name to the scoresheet.It was another counter-attack by Belhadj who delightfully chipped the ball Vladimir Sobotka Jersey to Abeyie who tapped the ball back to OHara to volley home a well-deserved goal.4-1. The same scoreline as it had been the last time Portsmouth played Southampton, this time at home in the league, in the 2004/2005 season.It was beautiful. Thats all I can say, really.A number of Southampton fans walked out towards the end, but to leave some credit, the majority stayed and remained in good humour, singing, Bring on the taxman.Fans wont care about the financial troubles concerning the club for the next few days. They will rejoice and talk of the game for years to come.The delight of the players and manager at the end of the game summed up what it had meant to them and if anything, it was rea suring. It provided hope that the players cared for Portsmouth and more importantly, they cared for the fans.Manager Avram Grant came out on his own and bowed down towards the Pompey fans. This result mattered so much. I dont think you can really put it in words. The footage of the event can only show its real meaning.Grant is a man to be admired in football. He is not a coward, he is an intellectual. Hes a deep emotional thinker who understands how important the club is to the city, and the city is to the club.After the game finished there were certain incidents that took place outside of the ground. Speaking from my own experience, a small number of Southampton fans threw rocks and hubcaps at Portsmouth fans as they made their way outside the stadium. One man suffered a deep head wound, with blood spilling from his crown.Portsmouth restored a sense of pride by becoming victorious on Saturday. Yes, they were playing League One opposition but in the circumstances, winning 4-1 is just extraordinary.I have a lot of respect for Grant and the players and its because of that I shall never forget the hard work theyve put in this season. Despite whats happened this season I dont think anyone can blame the shift theyve put in, their work ethic is an example to how all footballers should behave.
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