Pompey fans were left enviously witnessing a canary promotion party last night, it was a Pompey ‘fans day’, this in turn led to a good atmosphere, but it was the travelling Norwich fans who had the most to celebrate.
With Cardiff slipping up earlier in the day, Norwich knew a win would be enough to clinch the second promotion spot to the Premiership, Pompey were to put in a decent enough shift in opposition but there was always going to be only one winner on the night.
Norwich flew at Pompey from the off, obviously eager for an early goal to settle any jangling nerves, it almost arrived in the first couple of minutes, Mokoena who was to have a torrid evening clattering Holt and serving up a free-kick opportunity. This effort was spurned though, Whitbread rising unopposed to nod wide.
Herman Hreidarsson had a lucky escape after clashing with Holt, the Icelandic talisman kicking out after the tussle, D’Urso was in charitable mood however, deciding a talking to was enough.
Mokoena was next to get a lucky break, taking up a poor defensive position, he decided the best option of stopping Jackson was to blatantly hack him down, you feel if the game had more riding on it for Pompey he would of walked.
Norwich pushed for the goal, it would not arrive though, Pompey harried around enough without threatening themselves, the Norwich goal was never seriously threatened at all, the yellow wave was all one way.
Half time arrived and it was still goalless, Norwich had missed a few chances, mainly headers at was to continue for a few more minutes into the second period, Jackson outpaced Mokoena but shot wide, not to be denied though, the form man was to come up trumps.
David Fox was the architect of the golden goal, he whipped in a cross from the right and Jackson was left to make a blindside run and dive in to head home, The yellow hordes went wild and fair play to them.
This seemed to settle Norwich and also Pompey, Greg Halford was launching in some of his long throws and Pompey were at last giving Norwich something to at least defend against, there were a couple of loose ball scrambling around in the away defence but no real threat of a delay to the promotion party, the final whistle went and the players went absolutely potty, you couldn’t help but feel envious looking on, it is 9 years since Pompey acheived the same under the Fratton lights, you wonder when we will next feel such elation again.
Pompey came and had the lap of appreciation, the Norwich fans sportingly clapping them as the passed, then a few Norwich players came out to laud their fans, the difference in moods was more than noticable, Norwich have an exciting future 12 months ahead, Pompey one shrouded in doubt once more.
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