A rare 90 minutes of viewing for me yesterday and I have to say I was impressed. I was fully expecting a live-TV loss to a play-off contender but it never came close. Portsmouth looked second-best all afternoon and didn't strike me as a fourth placed side.
I was surprised just how comfortable we looked on the ball across the side and how confident we looked going forward in spite of our striking shortcomings. Joe Aribo's excellent finish to open the scoring was deserved and we might have had a second when Josh Cullen prodded home a loose ball only for Igor Vetokele to block it a yard out with his back with keeper stranded. Vetokele was the only real disappointment for me. He looked well off the pace and his touch and positioning were poor. Taylor said post-match that Igor was a good player and was coming back to full fitness but you have to ask why Josh Parker didn't get a run in the circumstances.
The back four were outstanding, especially Purrington, Bauer and Sarr. Given the control our diamond midfield had, Pompey were limited to raiding and they were fortunate to get an equaliser before half-time when the angry Curtis got up highest at the back post to power home a corner. Curtis was the only real Pompey player to show until Brett Pitman's late cameo. He was all snarls and fists for some reason - perhaps trying too hard to endear himself to the visiting fans. I did laugh at the images of him beating the turf with his fist at the end - it wasn't as if he had missed a golden opportunity or anything to square the match.
Charlton's second goal was a bit scrappy but Cullen (I think) did well to tee Taylor up five yards out for finish when he might have gone for goal himself. A third wouldn't have flattered us but we were left whistling for the finish after Pitman came on and stirred Pompey with his urgency and drive. If he had started the game they may have looked completely different.
With this around us all squandering chances again, we sit eight points clear in fifth and it's beginning to look like we will hang on for a play-off finish despite our striking shortcomings. Portsmouth and Sunderland look like our likely play-off opposition, although Portsmouth won't fancy us after our double over them. the significance of another Sunderland Wembley showdown won't be lost on anyone, especially them.
I am also left feeling a renewed sense of positivity about Lee Bowyer and the belief in this team. I have said all along that Roland has left us short of the play-offs and his deliberate choice not to allow Bowyer another loan striker in the January window would come back to haunt us. However, there is clearly a strong backs-to-the-wall mentality at play here and confirmation from Roland that the Championship is a "financial graveyard' given the higher operating costs and the investment needed to compete suddenly gives promotion an added incentive.
Duchatelet doesn't want promotion. He's hardly likely to get much more money for the club given the increased running costs that go with it but it might give him the kick-uo-the-arse that he badly needs to get real and get a deal done so he can escape increasing his monthly losses in the Championship. There's a form of revenge here for Bowyer and it would be great if he could take it and be pivotal in finally getting shot of Duchatelet.
I was surprised just how comfortable we looked on the ball across the side and how confident we looked going forward in spite of our striking shortcomings. Joe Aribo's excellent finish to open the scoring was deserved and we might have had a second when Josh Cullen prodded home a loose ball only for Igor Vetokele to block it a yard out with his back with keeper stranded. Vetokele was the only real disappointment for me. He looked well off the pace and his touch and positioning were poor. Taylor said post-match that Igor was a good player and was coming back to full fitness but you have to ask why Josh Parker didn't get a run in the circumstances.
The back four were outstanding, especially Purrington, Bauer and Sarr. Given the control our diamond midfield had, Pompey were limited to raiding and they were fortunate to get an equaliser before half-time when the angry Curtis got up highest at the back post to power home a corner. Curtis was the only real Pompey player to show until Brett Pitman's late cameo. He was all snarls and fists for some reason - perhaps trying too hard to endear himself to the visiting fans. I did laugh at the images of him beating the turf with his fist at the end - it wasn't as if he had missed a golden opportunity or anything to square the match.
Charlton's second goal was a bit scrappy but Cullen (I think) did well to tee Taylor up five yards out for finish when he might have gone for goal himself. A third wouldn't have flattered us but we were left whistling for the finish after Pitman came on and stirred Pompey with his urgency and drive. If he had started the game they may have looked completely different.
With this around us all squandering chances again, we sit eight points clear in fifth and it's beginning to look like we will hang on for a play-off finish despite our striking shortcomings. Portsmouth and Sunderland look like our likely play-off opposition, although Portsmouth won't fancy us after our double over them. the significance of another Sunderland Wembley showdown won't be lost on anyone, especially them.
I am also left feeling a renewed sense of positivity about Lee Bowyer and the belief in this team. I have said all along that Roland has left us short of the play-offs and his deliberate choice not to allow Bowyer another loan striker in the January window would come back to haunt us. However, there is clearly a strong backs-to-the-wall mentality at play here and confirmation from Roland that the Championship is a "financial graveyard' given the higher operating costs and the investment needed to compete suddenly gives promotion an added incentive.
Duchatelet doesn't want promotion. He's hardly likely to get much more money for the club given the increased running costs that go with it but it might give him the kick-uo-the-arse that he badly needs to get real and get a deal done so he can escape increasing his monthly losses in the Championship. There's a form of revenge here for Bowyer and it would be great if he could take it and be pivotal in finally getting shot of Duchatelet.
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