2010/11 season v Barnsley in the league at Fratton, Friday 18th – Wednesday 23rd February 2011.
I have to admit that I went into this journey, one that would see me stay in Cosham for two games instead of travelling back and forth, in ‘high spirits’. I actually, almost, expected something, which is a rarity these days!
The usual evening train was caught, this time from my (soon to be old) house in Ivybridge. With something needing passing onto Trina it was arranged that she would meet me at Dawlish station when the train went through at 18:40 – yes Dave the train was on time, so I will not moan! This gave time for a quick hello, kiss and a cuddle, handover of the merchandise and then it was onwards to Exeter St Davids for my connecting train.
No need to give an in-depth analysis of the rail timetable this time as all ran smoothly, with the change at Salisbury for another train at Scumhampton Central the gamble that I took again, in the hope of arriving into Cosham some half an hour early. This gamble did indeed payoff.
Expectancy levels were still high on Saturday morning when I rose, I think a lot of us were feeling this to be honest.
Such was the expectancy, and enthusiasm, the desire to have a Monster Mick returned. So, having been collected by my cousin Paul and picking up Saunders we then headed off to get this – I bumped into Phil (Lemmi) and Michelle (Pennymoon) on the way through so gave Paul the money and caught up with the pair for a bit of a chat. I have to admit that the burger was not up to he usual standards so the balti pie and coke deal in Fratton Park looks like be the winner when it comes to the occasional treat of pre-match food from now on…
The football was hardly inspiring, another pretty poor show – from both sides – with things livening up when ‘The King’ came on, and he notched the winner. Although coming on for Joel Ward, as he did, was wrong and the fans let Steve Cotterill know this! Was it coincidental that he did not handle the post-match interviews, was his ego dented a little perhaps?
This game must have ranked among the most boring, uninspiring, and basically uneventful games that I have seen in a while yet the main thing was that Pompey took the points thanks to the late winner from ‘super sup’ in the 1-0 win and that was the main thing, right?
For a second week running we not only won, but we kept another clean sheet – largely down to the fact that we DID keep a settled back four and that did make a big difference for me. As said it was a poor game, with little quality to get excited about but we need to get the results as that will ensure that we stay in this league, and my thoughts following this win were that it was ‘starting’ to look good that we would.
With Palace to follow on the Tuesday is again made sense to stay in Cosham in preparation for what was going to be a huge game…
PLAY UP POMPEY!
