I know it was a couple of days ago now but boy wasn’t Saturday worth it eh?
Even the usually reserved Appy got caught up in the emotion of our dramatic equaliser: ‘the lads are taking the mick a little bit out of me celebrating, calling me Mourinho! I normally keep on an even keel but emotions just took over. I think I’m allowed one of them every now and then, though!’
The stunning strike from Chuck, which ensured we came away from St Mary’s with a 2-2 draw, was worthy of winning any game – whilst it might not have done that (won it) for us it still felt like a win!
Appy had plenty of praise for his awesome technique: ‘I’ve seen Chuck do that many times before for Ipswich and Plymouth. His concentration was superb as he waited to strike the ball. It was a great strike.’
What goal was better though, Chuck’s or Chris Maguire’s 1st half thunderbolt?
For me I think Chuck just about edges it.
To wait for a ball, as he did, and manage to connect as sweetly as he did, and as accurately, takes some skill. Especially in such a high pressure game and at such a time in that game, literally the dying moments with another defeat that would have spelt near enough certain relegation for us…
To come back not once, but twice pleased Appy no end: ‘I said to the lads before the game that the biggest thing was how they dealt with disappointments. We went behind twice today but we dealt with it very quickly by equalising both times.’
Attention now turns to Millwall on Tuesday and to have any chance of taking it to the wire he knows victory is a must, but he also knows that we deserved at least a point: ‘it was a fantastic game to be involved in and we would have bitterly disappointed if we had lost because we deserved at least a point.
‘Jamie had to pull off a couple of good saves, but our goal wasn’t under barrage at any point. It was a very controlled performance by us.
‘We’ve come to a team vying for promotion and done very well, so it’s a big lift, but now we have to turn our minds to a massive game against Millwall on Tuesday.
‘We just want to stay in the fight for as long as we can and hopefully take it to the final game of the season at Nottingham Forest.’
I have to pick up on a point made by Appy on Paddy. I have not always been Ashdown’s greatest fan but he made a couple of fine saves – his second, within seconds, when he showed incredible reactions to turn over a header was as good as anything you will see. Absolutely world class!
Whatever happens now this was a wonderful day in our season, and recent history – I quote a good friend of mine in saying that we ‘remain kings of the south coast!’
It was a good game, and one that we deserved to get something from. To do so in such dramatic fashion makes it all the more sweeter, especially in their backyard! Few clubs will be able to say that they have remained unbeaten against Scum this season, but we know that we are one of them…
Perhaps we will still go down but I just want to continue to savour this moment for a while!
PLAY UP POMPEY!
Click here to make your prediction: Pompey v Millwall.
Vital Pompey on: Vital Pompey on:
Frippy’s Virtual Bookies – here.
Share this article
