Portsmouth 3-1 Sunderland

Well what a good Finnish to the season at home. It seemed for the first half that as we were safe that we might lose this, we started with quite an attacking formation for once 4-3-3, but strangely I am glad to say when we went to 4-4-2- in the second half and went on to win from one down. But to me the highlight of the night was when Linvoy came on for the last five and it gave the game that added extra punch that we have been missing at home since the AC Milan.

It was good to go back to my old haunt and have a couple of drinks. The place soon got busy with a glow of relief that we were now safe for this season. The only downside for Mum was the lack of Stella. Well there is no accounting for taste.

The visitors took the lead against the run of play when Calum Davenport's cross was tapped in by Kenwyne Jones.

John Utaka fired in an equaliser a minute later and then forced Phil Bardsley to bundle in an own goal that gave the home side the lead.

Portsmouth went down the other end to score; Utaka finding Traore on the left and the defender drilled a shot past Fulop into the far corner to seal the win.

So except for pride and a bit more money, the game against Wigan there is not much to play for I still hope for a win, but I will be more interested in the 4 way who is going down matches that will be one afternoon in front of the box.

Portsmouth: Begovic, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Utaka, Davis, Mullins, Hughes (Traore 46), Kanu (Kaboul 46), Crouch (Primus 90).
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Nugent, Basinas, Belhadj.

Booked: Utaka.

Goals: Utaka 60, Bardsley 68 og, Traore 88.

Sunderland: Fulop, Bardsley, Davenport, Ferdinand, Collins, Tainio (Cisse 80), Malbranque (Edwards 54), Whitehead, Leadbitter (Murphy 85), Richardson, Jones.
Subs Not Used: Colgan, Reid, Healy, McShane.

Goals: Jones 59.

Att: 20,398

Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).

New Owners? Are the getting round the table?

From SkySports.com

Portsmouth supremo Peter Storrie says he is in advanced talks to sell the club - and there will not be a fire-sale of players this summer.

The Fratton Park chairman says there are two interested parties looking to take over the club from owner Sasha Gaydamak.

He believes a deal will be done and dusted by the start of July and he is optimistic about the future.

Storrie told the News of the World: "I am in advanced talks (to sell the club) with two interested parties and believe a deal will be struck by the start of July.
Prepare

"That's when the transfer window opens and that's when we will need to know what money we have to prepare for next season. So I am optimistic about the club's future.

"I have heard all the doom and gloom stories about us being loaded with a mountain of debt which will mean we have to have a fire-sale of players in the summer. But I am telling you that's absolute rubbish.

"Sasha has been very open and honest about this. He made it clear earlier in the season that he would not continue to invest in the club and that he wanted to sell.

"And I can tell you he will lose a lot of money when he does complete the sale of the club - money that would make most people wince.

Long-term

"But he is prepared to do that because he is so concerned about the long-term future of this club."

Pub for Monday

The good old Traveller's Joy, my old regular haunt.

Safe!

So we are safe at last. Thanks to Newcastle loosing to Fulham, so Monday night I can relax a bit more and party! So I expect an announcement about a new owner very soon me thinks.

Will we be safe today?

If Hull or Newcastle lose today Pompey will be safe for another season. I would go with Hull I'm afraid but it would be nice if they both lost, but knowing how it goes with Pompey they will both win so hold on tight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So still not safe

I was hoping for a point at Blackburn, so with two games to go we must get about two points but I think we will need 4, never easy as a Pompey fan. Thankfully the teams below us are worse than us so we may not need the points, and by Monday it could all be over I hope. Play up Pompey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Blackburn 2-0 Portsmouth

Blackburn all but sealed their Premier League place with a comfortable win over a Pompey side still desperately seeking the win they need to survive.

Morten Gamst Pedersen put Rovers ahead after David James had flapped under pressure from Christopher Samba.

Benni McCarthy made victory safe from the penalty spot after Hermann Hreidarsson had needlessly handled.

John Utaka wasted a chance to set up a tense finish when he hopelessly blazed over from the penalty spot.

Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce:
"This has not been a great escape, it has been survival we worked hard for over several games.

"We have been clear for a while and are nearly there with two games to go. Forty points guarantees nothing but I don't think we can be caught now."

Portsmouth manager Paul Hart:
"You have to be on your toes against teams like Blackburn. They are hard to play against but I felt we gifted them two goals and that is disappointing.

"I have said all along that there will be no complacency from us in our preparation. If anyone thought we were safe already then today is a timely reminder that is not the case."

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Blackburn: Robinson, Andrews, Nelsen, Givet, Warnock, Diouf, Grella, Kerimoglu, Pedersen, Samba, McCarthy (Mokoena 83).
Subs not used: Bunn, Khizanishvili, Villanueva, Treacy, Olsson, Doran.

Booked: McCarthy, Andrews.

Goals: Pedersen 31, McCarthy 58 pen.

Portsmouth: James, Kaboul (Pennant 64), Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Johnson, Hughes (Kanu 53), Davis, Mullins, Belhadj (Utaka 53), Crouch.
Subs not used: Begovic, Nugent, Basinas, Cranie.

Booked: Johnson

Attendance: 24,234

Referee: Mike Riley (Yorkshire)