Welcome to Sunday Toast, the Vital Pompey magazine that surprisingly is posted every Sunday morning. I will admit Toasters that this week is a bit shorter than usual as I did not write it until yesterday after the game and I did have a pint before setting off home as I was overcome with emotion. Not sure why they are only a struggling Third Division team!
The pride is back! Pompey yesterday showed that they have plenty of fire in their bellies as they fought off intense Southampton pressure to eventually romp home by four goals to one. A great game for the neutrals I have no doubt but I did not see any fence sitters during the game or after.
You had to be totally committed to really ‘enjoy’ the game and the Eastney Tavern was packed with fans including most of the Toast team and Gandor`s party too. Most had washed their favourite underwear or brought anything else that would bring their beloved Pompey good luck. During the first half they needed those talismans as the Pompey goal lived a rather charmed life. Of course we also saw why David James is the England number one with some brilliant reactions. He threw in his usual ricket of course and got away with dropping a corner.
Pompey reached half time thankfully goalless their makeshift back four just about holding out. Storagematt posted during the game ‘the scum are hungry & are hassling us all over the pitch. Need to be much better second half.’ Could not disagree Matt summed it up perfectly.
Well fortunately Avram sorted it out and Pompey switched to just one up front and despite some early scares we got into the game more. What was to follow was unbelievable with five goals in nineteen minutes. A great finish from Quincy not known for his goal scoring exploits and others from Dindane, Belhadj and O`Hara sandwiched an equaliser from Lambert.
The fans were in heaven singing and dancing all around the city. The scoreline was perhaps a little tough on the home side but I for one will not complain after all the derbies I have seen back to 1963 where the rub of the green has always gone their way.
Gandor told me at halftime she expected us to be 5-0 up, I thought we could have been 2-0 down. In the end of course it was our first ever win over Southampton in the FA Cup and our first ever win at St Mary’s!
My man of the match has to be Jamo for the way he showed a true captain`s example which gave his side a toehold in the game which they built into an emphatic victory. Special word for Avram too, he has been criticised for his substitutions at time but here it got it spot on. Angelos Basinas had fought tirelessly in midfield and had performed better that his midfield colleagues but Grant wanted Diop`s height to combat the aerial threat. Grant felt Southampton were tiring and wanted to inject pace and on came Quincy; the rest as they say is history.
How are the heads this morning? Sorry for the match report Paul but this was a special occasion. As for lucky charms I wore the shirt I wore on 24th April 2005!
Gandor’s view
Well as Gandor was there I asked her for a view words, only fair I suppose.
‘So where were you the day Pompey stuffed it to the Scummers 4-1!? I was in the Eastney Tavern with “non-football fan” hubby and an Iranian friend who gave just as good an impression of a Sheik with loads of dosh as Al fahim and Al Faraj – and unfortunately, like them – its just an impression?? What a rollercoaster of a week we have had? On Wednesday, we were in danger of being put out of business and then four days later we get through to the quarter finals of the FA Cup. I must say the first half dismayed me, as secretly I had expected us to win 5-1, and by the end of the first half, it looked like a nil nil draw. But I kept telling my non footie friends, No, we always improve in the second half, we are just wearing them down. And so it came to pass or that`s how it seemed to me. How did it feel to win?
I admit I can`t get excited about the Scummers, Spurs are more my era, but it was such a buzz to see the looks on the teams` faces at the end when they all got together to congratulate each other. What a bunch of guys? How would it be if THESE boys got us to the FA Cup Final? Wouldn`t that be a REAL Pompey team? Well, let’s hope we get a soft result in the draw tomorrow, cos if we beat them, then we could be on our way to Wembley – again – but this time with a real rag, tag and bobtail of a team – which would surely be so much more fun than the last time – and who would have thought we could have topped that? (For younger fans Rag, Tag and Bobtail was a Childrens’ TV series from the 1950s Ed)
The week gone by
Pompey fans have spent much of the week walking a tightrope and I, personally don`t want to do that again. However sadly after the adjournment it looks like we will all have to. We have all felt nervous during lives but this was a strange feeling thinking that the club we all love could disappear at any minute. As one fan put it the only light at the end of the tunnel was extinction!
Just to explain one thing about the court hearing when the registrar talked about trading while insolvent that is of course not legal. She was concerned about protecting the future creditors of the club and if I told you some of the stories circulating the city about companies owed money you would have some sympathy.
Tuesday night was bad enough in what might have been the last game at Fratton Park. The exploits of Pompey`s Friend are well documented and it led to a game full of action and incident in fact enough to fill a whole season with three sent off and numerous penalty appeals ignored.
You have to admire the pride and the passion shown by both the team and the manager you just seem to smile in the face of every problem that faces them.
There has been too much written about Pompey`s financial plight but the comments of the Tottenham manager baffle me when he states ‘I cannot understand how they git into that mess’ and then ‘I knew nothing about the wages there’ when he had already stated that Sylvan Distin was on £50,000 a week?
Trust up and running
Well the Pompey Trust got a good send off on Thursday at a packed meeting. Why not join now? Just click the link at the bottom of the column.
Linvoy`s night in
A Fans’ Football Night with Linvoy Primus will take place at Fratton Park`s Victory Lounge on Tuesday, March 23.
Former Blues defender Primus will be joined by Pompey players past and present for an evening of football chat and banter, with archive film.
Sam Matterface of Sky Sports News hosts the event, which starts at 7.30pm.
Tickets are £10 pre-paid and £12.50 on the door. There will be a bar and refreshments.
The evening is in support of Linvoy`s charity, Faith & Football. For more information and to book call 023 9277 6823.
Vital regular UKTony had suggested we book a table but on enquiring was told the seating would be laid out concert style. He booked six tickets but the last I heard had only two left so if you want to go PM Tony and if his have gone ring the club on the number above. Be quick I am told they are in demand.
Stoke ticket
Want to see the Stoke game next Saturday? I have a spare ticket and if you want to join me at the game watch the Forum during the week for a chance to be there.
PUP
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