Pompey started the day staring at the abyss, we finish it with new hope for the future and a 5th win in 6!
The news just before kick-off that Gaydamak was going to finally sanction the move out of administration gave all fans a lift off the pitch, and the lads on it triumphed again, the resolve in the boys in blue is starting to galvanise by the day, 12th spot in the table is our home now, the play-off spots look very close now!
Pompey made one change to the team that won at Millwall, Mokoena returned in place of Rocha who was nursing his piggystring.
On the bench was the figure of Hermann Hreidarsson, rumour was he was upset at losing his number 7 to Lawrence and would wear 6 with a small +1!
The match got off to a similar start as the Millwall one, both teams trading blows and finding their feet, Pompey however started to push the harder, confidence bred by winning ways was spurring them on, and a flurry of corners showed their intent.
Hull were flying into tackles, McShane (Ted Bovis?) the main benevolent of some lax refereeing.
On the half hour Nugent almost broke the deadlock, from fully 25 yards he smashed in a shot which hit the bar so hard it bounced back outside of the area, memories of Man City at home a couple of years back.
As the half closed out, Pompey took the lead they deserved, Nugent broke clear of a static Hull defence from almost the halfway line, as Hull protested for a flag that wasn’t coming, Nugent honed in on goal, unlike so often this season though, he slotted home when one-on-one and Pompey had a lead once more.
Half-time and Pearson sent Hull out early, no doubt after an ear-bashing, it had little time to take affect though as Pompey quickly gained a free-kick on the edge of the area. Lawrence has been dominating these recently, but up stepped Halford to smash home and double the lead, Pompey were well on the way to 16 points out of 18, now that is form!
Hull stepped up their game a little as they should being the home outfit, but Pompey came closest again, this time Utaka meeting a corner with his head, Matt Duke saving and the follow up missed the target.
Nick Barmby was starting to influence the match, he emphasised this by grabbing a lifeline, heading home from a cross when he was probably the smallest man on the pitch.
This should of set us up for a tense last twenty minutes, but the tension was contained to the fans, on the pitch Pompey comfortably saw out the game, Hreidarsson enjoying a cameo and being welcomed back into the fold.
Forest are to follow, but the Championship must be sitting up and taking note of Pompey’s charge.
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