Kernow

Big Jon Stead

Easy to say that both ways, though. Their game in hand is at home to Port Vale, the midweek before the final game of the season. The impact of the game in hand may not even be relevant at that point. Looking at the games we both have, I’d back us to get at least the same number of points as Bolton, meaning the game in hand vs Port Vale wouldn’t matter, as they could only get to within a point of us. I think it’ll go down to the last day but if we don’t finish in the top 2 now it’ll be because we’ve messed up somewhere, we’d only have ourselves to blame.

Looking at Bolton’s fixtures, anything less than 10 points from their last 5 is a slip up from them. Rovers away and Shrewsbury & Vale at home should be 9 points. They should be able to get 1 point minimum from Portsmouth at home and Peterborough away. After last night, Portsmouth may be happy for a point again. They could go up in the Bolton game, but if they don’t lose then Bolton won’t catch them and they’re as good as up anyway. If we aren’t already up by the Carlisle game, hopefully Peterborough are 3 points behind us too. If they have any chance of getting top 2, they’ll give Bolton a much harder game than if they’re already confirmed in the play-offs. That means 10 points should be more than enough for us, or 9 points and hope we can rely on goal difference. Bolton winning the rest of their games would mean 6 wins in a row which they haven’t done all season. They also seem to go missing in “big” games and although they can score a lot, they don’t always follow that up with another good performance. I’d be surprised if 4 wins are necessary for us to get over the line, but I think if we don’t manage to win 3 of the 4 then it won’t be enough. I think we’ll do it, but only just.

Even if we won tonight, Pompey to beat Bolton all day long! I really couldn't care less about catching Portsmouth, I guarantee you that come around 14:30 on Saturday 27th April, if we are sitting in 2nd place, not one single part of me will be disappointed we didn't win the league. Get us up, get us out of this league, 2nd will be perfect thank you.

Take that, for sure. Yes, it could've been more but this point could make such a difference, it's no longer on goal difference if Bolton win their game in hand. We defended superbly, undone by a brilliant strike, which I don't think Wildsmith was at fault for despite getting a touch on the ball. Obviously if that had not gone in, we don't know how we would've held up, it would have been like the alamo as we were getting deep a bit too early, that's my only criticism. The point suits both of us. A defeat would've been disastrous, not only with zero points for us, but in the battle Portsmouth have going forward. In avoiding defeat, it means unless they lose vs Shrewsbury and Bolton beat Bristol Rovers, they can confirm their promotion against Bolton. In avoiding defeat we've basically given them the perfect opportunity against our closest challengers. Before today, I would've been delighted with 4 points from Portsmouth and Wycombe. If we don't beat Wycombe then tonight's result becomes disappointing. However if we can beat Wycombe, then we put ourself 2 wins away from promotion. Tonight's result has basically allowed us a fantastic opportunity to get ourselves over the line. Happy with that.

Bugger.

Tommo will be like one of those pucks on an air hockey table with this pitch.

Also played about 20 minutes before today after coming back about a month earlier than he was originally meant to. He's done a good job, but losing him again for the remainder of the season may have a bigger impact to our hopes than whatever happens in the next half-an-hour. It's similar with NML. Warne has to manage the rest of the season and the game ahead of us at the same time.

Gamble responsibly etc., but put your entire mortgage on Wildsmith getting a booking before the end of the night.

I think Blackett-Taylor is the unsung hero of the half. Ward will get the plaudits for the goals, but CBT is direct and causing them so many problems, they've had to overcompensate on that side which has allowed Ward more freedom. If the pitch wasn't so wet, I think he may have had an even better half. There's been more than one occasion where he's gone in to the box and cut inside, but the ball has held up on the surface or just got stuck under his feet. Keep doing what we're doing, the longer we're ahead, the more they'll commit. We will hopefully then have more space for the wingers to run into, it's just a shame we don't have too much pace on the bench to stretch the game if they're tiring. Someone like Barkhuizen would be ideal to bring on with about 20 left if we're still in front.

A good, battling half in pretty awful conditions. We've had some shaky moments but they've not been flawless either, and they're top of the league. Hopefully we don't start the second half cold, because if we keep battling like we have been, this could be one of the biggest 45 we've played all season.

Big, big deflection is the only reason that went in, but guess what? I couldn't give a hoot!

JOE f****** WARDDDD

On the replay that looked clearly off, would put that down as an officiating mistake to be honest...

That lasted long.

Going to get a lot of cramp with the backpiece twitching for another 80 minutes now...

WAAAARRRRDDD!!!!! Brilliant by CBT, what a fantastic goal.

Why is that not a yellow? There's late and there's intentionally leaving one on him. That was as blatant as they come.

I think you can see Wildsmith say he slipped and he did, but he also didn't really slow down and I don't think you can just say "oh OK then, don't worry about it", the weather shouldn't change the ref's decisions otherwise the game technically isn't playable. I think how early on in the game it is probably made a difference too, which is often the case. The lack of a card may come in handy if we're 1 up with minutes to play...

Probably should've been carded. He didn't run/slip out of the box with the ball in his hands intentionally obviously, but by the laws of the game that should still have been a card for him.

19 of the lads pictured here, probably the match day squad plus one of the Robinsons who don’t make the 18? Vickers is there so he might be back in. It would be a big call to drop Wildsmith again if Vickers is fit again, I think Wildsmith has played well enough to keep the number 1 spot anyway.

But to say it’s out of our hands means that no matter what we do, it might not be enough. As long as there’s not a 4 goal swing in us losing to Pompey & Bolton winning their game in hand, then just matching Bolton’s results for the rest of the season would see us above them. Very much still in our hands.

Pompey 1-2 Derby NML

I'd hate to see what we would have got if -21 points, transfer embargos, academy decimated, administration and relegation is "getting away with it." We'd have been laughed at if we stayed down in League One for years and years, but now we look like we may get out in two seasons (an amazing achievement when you look at it objectively), it means we got off lightly.

That's essentially what we would ever be if we got there too. Unless things change, there's more to be said about regularly being a top-half Championship side than just scrapping it out for 17th every season.