That was exhausting. I thought it was a really good disciplined performance. We set up to nick it and nearly did. Defensively we were about as comfortable as could be expected in the conditions.

CBT is getting better and better. A shout out to Sibley who stood up to the challenge very well and to Collins who did a man's job up front.

Non-stop singing in the away end which was great though I had to reprimand a lad behind me who screamed abuse at Hourihane as soon as he took the field. I told him to support the team. We shook hands at the final whistle happily.

comment by lastapostleofvidal (U1491)

We shook hands at the final whistle happily.
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I didn't know you were friendly with Hourihane.

Can't believe there isn't more fuss being made in the mainstream media about the EFL using their Fox Drones to deliberately sabotage a teams chances of automatic promotion.

Makes you wonder if there's such thing as a free press.

FtheEFL

Cloudy but dry in Portsmouth today. Slept like a log after long drive and emotional roller coaster. Feels like a great point the morning after. Having seen the highlights the offside for their first was too close to call so no complaint there. On another day the linesman or ref would have seen the subtle handball prior to their second but them’s the breaks. Better the occasional iffy decision than VAR for me.

5 hour drive back now!

5 hours!

Have you gone by moped (vidal on his Fizzie)?

Likewise, Vidal... offside possibly but very close and doesn't detract from a very well taken goal. Handball... he didn't move his arm, the ball bounced up off the pitch and hit his arm high up. Could have been given but wasn't obvious. They got the breaks there, we got a huge deflection for our 2nd. Great game - fantastic atmosphere.

Just seen the state of the fox ... what a mange covered animal that was!

No tail. Very sad.

It did have a tail

comment by FinlandRam (U3621)
posted 8 minutes ago
It did have a tail

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No fur though which is mange. You are nit-picking!

Roadworks at various places. M27, Winchester, Newbury, Gloucester. Half way home.

Have just seen some photo's of the Peak District on the Bank holiday. Horrendous!

Some late thoughts enforced due to a friend having an important birthday bash on match day meaning I could only watch the first 55 minutes or so. Now I've been able to watch it all (inc a repeat of those first minutes.)

After the first ten minutes or so of relentless pressure I was worrying that the weather could reduce the match to a lottery but fortunately, while the ball occasionally did some crazy albeit expected things, the conditions were playable and actually made for an exciting, pulsating game worthy of the league's top two teams.

Whoever introduced that mangy fox did us a great disservice as we looked to be in a position to exploit a big gap down the left side but who knows what could really have happened? There were some superb performances out there and rather than nominate a MOM I would especially mention Ward (two fine goals and more), Sibley (second half shut down of Kamara), Adams (immense), Collo (incredible after that injury and showing his detractors exactly what we miss when he's absent), Nels and Cash (as usual and one of whom in normal conditions would surely have prevented Kamara's goal), Wilson and Smith (for tireless energy), NML (for a fine final twenty minutes), CBT (for his thrilling pace and control), Wildsmith (for not letting his unfortunate early slip outside his area bother him), and Thommo (for some very effective late running.)

I don't remember much about our home game against Portsmouth but on yesterday's showing I think they are the best we've faced but we equaled them and thoroughly deserved that point.

Finally yet again our away support was fantastic especially given the game was on TV, it was a long trip and the weather was foul.

Home safe and sound. Really glad I made the trip. I was too nervous to enjoy it at the time but it feels like a great night now looking back. Won't forget it in a hurry.

Rams are going up, ole ole
Rams are going up, ole ole
Rams are going up
Rams are going up
Rams are going up, ole ole

(Repeat until hoarse)

Vidal ... likewise, it was a hard watch at the time but a great atmosphere and worth the effort. Aside from a couple of marshy areas, the pitch held up well. We showed great spirit and got our tactics spot on. It took a wonder strike to prevent us taking all 3 points.

comment by Chicagoram (U22653)
posted 1 hour, 19 minutes ago
Some late thoughts enforced due to a friend having an important birthday bash on match day meaning I could only watch the first 55 minutes or so. Now I've been able to watch it all (inc a repeat of those first minutes.)

After the first ten minutes or so of relentless pressure I was worrying that the weather could reduce the match to a lottery but fortunately, while the ball occasionally did some crazy albeit expected things, the conditions were playable and actually made for an exciting, pulsating game worthy of the league's top two teams.

Whoever introduced that mangy fox did us a great disservice as we looked to be in a position to exploit a big gap down the left side but who knows what could really have happened? There were some superb performances out there and rather than nominate a MOM I would especially mention Ward (two fine goals and more), Sibley (second half shut down of Kamara), Adams (immense), Collo (incredible after that injury and showing his detractors exactly what we miss when he's absent), Nels and Cash (as usual and one of whom in normal conditions would surely have prevented Kamara's goal), Wilson and Smith (for tireless energy), NML (for a fine final twenty minutes), CBT (for his thrilling pace and control), Wildsmith (for not letting his unfortunate early slip outside his area bother him), and Thommo (for some very effective late running.)

I don't remember much about our home game against Portsmouth but on yesterday's showing I think they are the best we've faced but we equaled them and thoroughly deserved that point.

Finally yet again our away support was fantastic especially given the game was on TV, it was a long trip and the weather was foul.
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Finally!

Did wonder what had happend to Chicago's after match thoughts that are promptly posted.

Away fans need to take great pride in their support. The noise was absolutely immense. I'd have loved to have been there.

And a 10 hour round trip is great commitment!

As Peeder says the tactics were bang on. I think Warne is an excellent defensive coach though we are not especially imaginative going forward. Great credit for the organisation and every player showed 100% focus on his job.

I wish I had had a bit more time to explore Portsmouth. We visited Southsea Castle this morning, built by Henry VIII, or rather built by others at his request to repel potential French or Spanish invaders, and then in use again in each of the World Wars. They have a D-Day tour too which we did not have time to take in. I have always thought of Portsmouth as being something of a crap hole but there is quite a bit of redevelopment going on.

For those of you who were there (fantastic commitment indeed) I wonder what you felt about their late "penalty" claim. Replays from different angles afforded conflicting opinions so the ref was probably right not to give one. What do you think or could you not see much from behind the other goal?

It was down the far end. I had no idea at all. Their fans went up for it so I was terrified. I looked at the ref and when he spread his arms wide I could have wept with relief.

Vidal ... the dockyards are a great day out (probably 2 or 3 days if you wanted to). The Spinnacre is worth a look too. Southsea was my spiritual home as a kid - they had a laughing policeman machine which my granddad insisted on taking me to when they visited. Hayling Island is ok. But, generally, its a pretty rough town as you might expect from its history.

There's a blue plaque on a house just outside Waterlooville that's worth a visit though 😉

And yes, likewise with the penalty. I expected the ref to give it. Delighted he didn't and, having now seen the replay, he was right.

comment by Peeder (U1684)
posted 15 minutes ago
Vidal ... the dockyards are a great day out (probably 2 or 3 days if you wanted to). The Spinnacre is worth a look too. Southsea was my spiritual home as a kid - they had a laughing policeman machine which my granddad insisted on taking me to when they visited. Hayling Island is ok. But, generally, its a pretty rough town as you might expect from its history.

There's a blue plaque on a house just outside Waterlooville that's worth a visit though 😉

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Peeder - you have a blue plaque. Richly deserved I would say.

comment by 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 HebridesRam (U2909)
posted 8 minutes ago
comment by Peeder (U1684)
posted 15 minutes ago
Vidal ... the dockyards are a great day out (probably 2 or 3 days if you wanted to). The Spinnacre is worth a look too. Southsea was my spiritual home as a kid - they had a laughing policeman machine which my granddad insisted on taking me to when they visited. Hayling Island is ok. But, generally, its a pretty rough town as you might expect from its history.

There's a blue plaque on a house just outside Waterlooville that's worth a visit though 😉

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Peeder - you have a blue plaque. Richly deserved I would say.
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Amazon... £14.99

Actually £16.95 ... inflation eh?!