Well the media have still got their story. ITV especially, who have dismissed Blues all season have no Man U, Liverpool or Arsenal to drool over and so the Pompey story is manna from heaven. I can assure you that all the 3000 Blues’ fans at Fratton Park today were wanting and hoping for Blues to shove their administration, Tax Bill, the little old lady with the rattle, that dude with the big hat and blue dreds right up where the sun don’t shine.

Instead of a determined and ruthless side ready to put the ailing body out of it’s misery Blues were timid and appeared to the guests at a Party who were not sure why they had been invited. Blues passed the ball and passed the ball until they ran out of ideas or just gave the ball away. Blues defence were able to cope with Pompey’s quick and noticeably unfettered attack and apart from a week effort from Behadj in the first minute Joe Hart was untroubled.

Blues for all the pretty pretty stuff managed one meaningful effort when Jerome fired a left foot drive which James turned round the post. Jerome’s touch was found wanting or he would have had a clearer sight at goal.

The problem for a team who can’t score ,even against the bottom team in two full games  from open play, is not only that you can’t win, but they might just cash in when you make a mistake. So it was when a corner was cleared by Blues and the return bounced around and as it was arriving in the safe hands of Joe Hart , Scott Dann kicked it out! Hart was unable to regrasp the ball and Piquionne , who had been offside in the build up tapped home. 3 Minutes later Mcfadden was two slow to a pass and Pompey swept the ball forward to Piquionne who turned Roger Johnson inside out and fired home.

Blues tried to fight back and sent on Phillips and Chucho. The result was a livelier front line who still could not find clear opening. Ferguson and Phillips set up Jerome who was to slow to get a shot off as Wilson slid the ball for a corner. The corner led to an incredible incident as Scott Dann headed Larsson’s corner goalwards. James just managed a save low down and Ridgewell netted the rebound. For some reason the assistant referee let the sympathy for Portsmouth’s plight get the better of him and rule the ball to have not crossed the line. The keeper scooped the ball out from about 18 inches inside the goal and Ridgewell could have still bundled the ball over but didn’t bother. Yet in spite of all the evidence the lino still failed to spot it.

Putting aside the fact that Ridgewell should have headed the ball away from the keeper this official’s incompetence ended any hopes Blues had of getting back in the game. The inevitable call for video evidence will ensue but surely finding a human being that can see 40 odd metres is not beyond even the Premier League Referee’s competence.

This result, as previously stated will be enjoyed by our media as it makes the possibility of the Cup, and the England goalie’s jersey more likely to stay in London. Pompey are unlikely to beat anyone else left in the competition which leaves only Stoke and Villa. The possibilities are too frightful to contemplate.

Pompey: James; O’Hara; Hreidarsson; Piquionne; Brown; Finnan; Utaka; Webber (Diop, 85); Ben Haim; Wilson; Belhadj

Subs not used: Ashdown; Mullins; Quincy’ Dindane; Kanu; Basinas

Blues: Hart; Carr; Johnson; Dann; Ridgewell; Ferguson; Bowyer; Larsson (Gardner 84); Fahey (Phillips 72); McFadden (Chucho 76); Jerome

Subs not used:Taylor; Parnaby; Murphy; Michel;

Yellow cards: Brown, Ferguson

Ref: Steve Bennett. Much better when he’s not involved with the big boys.

By Alan Watton