Many people felt the lack of movement in key areas in January would prove the defining moment in an inability for Pompey to sustain a play-off push for a second successive promotion. Admittedly, I had felt, in some ways still do, the top-six would be a bridge too far.
Monday’s deserved 2-1 win over Wigan ruined Paul Cook’s return to Fratton Park – a wonderful atmosphere helped us to victory – to make it four in a row and leave the Blues almost in a position where we control our own play-off fate.
Yes, Wigan, as you would expect, put us under some pressure late on. When they made the breakthrough with a minute to go, especially as five minutes added time followed, there was a slight concern, but all things considered we defended really well and were worthy of the win.
Wigan will point towards some things going against them, in fairness there was a foul – I think from Gareth Evans – in the lead up to the Jamal Lowe goal, but it wasn’t given and we went on to make the most of it.
The penalty was perhaps a little soft too? However, you cannot tell me a Wigan player wouldn’t have gone down given the opportunity of a trailing leg catching them? Let’s face it several visiting players did try it on to get a penalty for them, a handball decision did go in our favour mind.
As said ahead of the game on Easter Monday, we appear to have players coming back from injury at the right time and momentum is being gained when it matters most, so if this can continue into the crucial final fixtures then a play-off place could yet beckon.
However, Rochdale at the weekend, whilst on paper arguably the easiest of our run-in, is going to be far from straightforward – overcome that and we are set up nicely for another massive game at Plymouth.
PLAY UP POMPEY
