HorsforthRam

I expect Bolton will be a point behind by the time we play this game. Anything else will be a pleasant surprise. Hence, I feel this is a must win game, not a “must not lose” game. Anything but three points and it’s out of our hands and a massive boost to Bolton. We need to to go into every game like it’s the playoff final from now. I’m sure that’s obvious to Warne and the lads. 

Not so bad if you sing it like mike skinner. 

Nice and annoying to be proved right. At least one of your goals was result of LB going awol.
Told you! I also said one of main strengths was character.....not giving up. Few would have
predicted Moxon would smash ball in from 25 yards...not sure who was most surprised..him,
his team mates or the crowd. A long range shot into Fratton End goal is always cause for mad
partying..as long as it's Pompey who score.
Impressed with Derby generally and your support was great. 2-2 was fair although you guys were
probably annoyed at dropping 2 points.....was fine with us...another game ticked off list.
Good luck Rams...hope we go up together and.....one more message:
Hello Richard Haines.....Derby fan and dad...also my son. Love ya.

Spot on Madamster. I've joked about the game, but it's one that makes me nervous. That said, we've improved a lot in how we deal with shithouses and I expect us to win the game. If we do, we're almost over the line IMO.

Lots of questions there! 
Yes, a bit weaker, as you say, it's about the amount of money available.  Despite some opposition fans' views, we have spent virtually no money on our team, instead picking up players with something to prove, often following injury. This has worked better for some than others, and is partly the reason for our lengthy injury list again now.
We've bought a mix of players to get us out of League One, and a few with potential to deliver in the Championship - Ward, Wilson, Blackett Taylor, Adams (if we can persuade him to stay as only on loan). 
I think our current squad would have been top six last year but possibly not top two. We've definitely strengthened in some key areas for the type of football Warne wants us to play.
Like you, though, we would have to strengthen big time if we went up - and let some of our older players go. Luckily, most are out of contract anyway.
I always felt we would play football against you, regardless of conditions,  because you do too. It's the teams who set up to spoil the game we struggle against at times.
So, to answer your final question, I do think teams are playing up against us, home and away. We are a big club with a proud history like yourselves and for some teams they could only have dreamed of playing us even a few seasons ago. We also have a stadium those fans love to come to, but we have seen some awful gamesmanship by some teams against us, that completely spoils the match as a spectacle. Give me a good, honest, end to end competition against you or Blackpool anyday, even with the threat of us losing, than watch the Shrewsburys, Wycombes, of this league. 

Warne has said on numerous occasions that we can’t waste a half of football. I think this will be key against Wycombe. Tempo. They will slow everything down, throws, free kicks, injuries etc. we are awful when we fall into that trap (Northampton). So we need to play the game at speed. That starts with Wildsmith imo. 

Warne has said on numerous occasions that we can’t waste a half of football. I think this will be key against Wycombe. Tempo. They will slow everything down, throws, free kicks, injuries etc. we are awful when we fall into that trap (Northampton). So we need to play the game at speed. That starts with Wildsmith imo. 

Warne has said on numerous occasions that we can’t waste a half of football. I think this will be key against Wycombe. Tempo. They will slow everything down, throws, free kicks, injuries etc. we are awful when we fall into that trap (Northampton). So we need to play the game at speed. That starts with Wildsmith imo. 

Hi, Pompey supporter with our take on lasts nights game. I think the weather made the game less of a spectacular affair but the players, from both teams, put on a really good display. I thought Derby adapted to the conditions better than Pompey where the conditions negated the effectiveness of our wingers Lane and, especially, Kamara. I suppose you could say the same for Blackett-Taylor & Mendez-Lang, both players I would have liked Pompey to have signed. I think Derby quite possibly had the greater attacking threat on the counter in the first half whereas ours was a little laboured due to not being able to adapt to the conditions. I read with interest of the disagreement with your managers choice of the tactics in the second half. However, without a wonder goal he may well have got it right. Closing players down in those conditions was risky as slipping on the surface could let players in. Portsmouth usually play a closing down game but not so much last night. I think overall a draw was a fair result last night which probably benefits us more than your lot. 
I think the controversial situations were fairly evenly spread out. There was a handball leading up to our equaliser and I think VAR might have ruled out our first goal. Handling the ball by the keeper is a sending off offence normally but I think the ref got it right by allowing for the conditions. I don't think it was a 'nailed on penalty' because I think our player was looking to go down anyway, but on another day it could be given.
I thought it was a proper game of football from two famous old clubs. It was good to see the ground full with a decent away following that made themselves heard, which is normally difficult at Fratton Park. The game, allowing for the conditions, was a good advert for League One where both teams look ready for the Championship. 

Warne has said on numerous occasions that we can’t waste a half of football. I think this will be key against Wycombe. Tempo. They will slow everything down, throws, free kicks, injuries etc. we are awful when we fall into that trap (Northampton). So we need to play the game at speed. That starts with Wildsmith imo. 

Warne has said on numerous occasions that we can’t waste a half of football. I think this will be key against Wycombe. Tempo. They will slow everything down, throws, free kicks, injuries etc. we are awful when we fall into that trap (Northampton). So we need to play the game at speed. That starts with Wildsmith imo. 

I don’t know is the honest answer. I would just rather have him on the wing, that’s all 🤷🏽‍♂️

Warne has said on numerous occasions that we can’t waste a half of football. I think this will be key against Wycombe. Tempo. They will slow everything down, throws, free kicks, injuries etc. we are awful when we fall into that trap (Northampton). So we need to play the game at speed. That starts with Wildsmith imo. 

We all would, including Warne I'd imagine. Warne is using him there as a physical presence with pace that can worry opposition. He's making use of the players he has available in the best we he sees fit. I think it works better away from home than at home, as I agree about him lacking the nuance to play in that position well. Away from home, he can use the space and his pace. Things could change when Bird returns, or he ends up with multiple match fit strikers.

Warne has said on numerous occasions that we can’t waste a half of football. I think this will be key against Wycombe. Tempo. They will slow everything down, throws, free kicks, injuries etc. we are awful when we fall into that trap (Northampton). So we need to play the game at speed. That starts with Wildsmith imo. 

Only thing I’d add to this is that NML gives the ball away in dangerous positions when he isn’t on the wing. He can’t hold the ball when running back to our goal to receive it. His touch often lets him down.  He also runs square across the pitch and telegraphs passes leaving us on the back foot if the ball is intercepted. Safest place for him and the team is on the wing. Even if that means 30 mins against a tired defence 

Probably the best away support I’ve seen at Fratton park this season. Draw was probably a fair result and I’d have taken that if you offered it to me before the game.
 
Safe journey back gents if you’re heading back tonight. I have a four hour plus drive to Norfolk now 🤣🙊. 

Few people on this thread being critical of NML. Think this is a tad harsh for a few reasons:
1) He's being played out of position. He's not a CF - he's a winger. He's being fitted into the team as he offers more flex than the other wingers.
2) He's working within different formations of the team. Is it five at the back, is it four at the back etc
3) He's had different partners up there with him - Collins, Wash, Waggy etc
For me - as soon as he went onto the right last night for the final 10 minutes - he looked better. He got the ball, took players on etc. HE's not really able to do that from a central position.
We have the luxury of having plenty of wingers but not enough central players. We don't have a number 10 in this squad (maybe Sibs?).
He is still one of the first on the sheet for me - and for anyone suggesting give him a rest - there are only four games left!!!

Think this is a good point by Punjabi rams. It’s not necessarily the point we should be happy about it’s the level of confidence we played with. We looked like a promotion side  against the best side in the league. We kept our shape and had a focus and a bit of swagger without it looking like we were playing above ourselves. We were willing ourselves to get a result. 
Although we’ve been consistent I don’t think we’ve looked assured, and that’s why we’ve had our Warne out/in debates and so much fluff surrounding the club this season. Last night was a step up for me, we looked a top side and I dare say even under Mac1 we didn’t look like ‘top 2’. There’s still a long way to go, and it’s not all wrapped up, but it’s been a long while since I could sense that confidence from a derby side on the pitch. 
That’s not me saying promotion is secured or anything like that, I just thought last night was a big step forward in the right direction performance wise.
 

It was an excellent first half, I thought we played really well and carried a greater attacking threat than Portsmouth, even though they had more of the ball. Smith, Adams, CBT and Ward all excellent.
Second half imo was, in complete contrast, a dirge and such a missed opportunity. Decided from the very start of the second half to just sit in our defensive third and not even bother coming out and trying to attack. It's such a dangerous tactic and one that ultimately failed. Very negative, the pace slowed, the game became boring, and no-one on here will ever be able to complain about teams coming to PPS and parking the bus, time wasting or playing "anti-football" as some call it. 
Would I have taken a point before ko? Absolutely. But watching our first half performance, I thought Portsmouth were vulnerable at the back and we chose not to exploit that further. So ultimately, a decent point, but felt afterwards and still feels to me like two points dropped.
 

Agree with most of that. It would have been natural or understandable for us to sit back with 15 to go. However, that mentality seems to have been instilled at half time and like you, I thought Pompey were there for the taking. Even with our approach, it would feel a lot more comfortable if, now and again, we had control of the football for brief spells. As it was, we tried to counter too quickly and turnover was too quick (a big beef of mine 😂)
I do t expect we’ll change much over the course of the next 4 games. Warne’s big call will come when Bradley is available again
 

Win all four and it won't matter. Wycombe looks to me to be the banana skin we need to avoid. Horrible place, horrible team and the sort of place we struggle at. Win that and my confidence levels of autos will be through the roof. 

Still feel we need to win all 4 
fancy Bolton to beat rovers port vale and Shrewsbury and get 4 from the other 2 games
 
Bloody draining this promotion race 

It's going to go right to the wire between us and Bolton I think, however we have the points in the bag so I think we're narrow favourites as long as we hold our nerve.