Pompey had survived relegation, Graham Rix promised fans that this would never happen again and a few months later the sun was shining and Spurs were in town. The early season joy was almost tangible when Pompey matched Tottenham all over park until a second half onslaught saw Pompey go 4 goals down but with early season signings and Rix talking the talk, Pompey fans were optimistic for their fortunes in a year that surely it would finally work for the club.
However this was dashed when a week after the Spurs friendly, Aaron Flahavan was killed in a driving accident leaving Bournemouth after a night out. The club was rocked and fans couldn't believe that a Pompey youngster had been taken. A young man in the prime of his life had been taken and a week before the season opener against Wolves, Rix and Duffy had to lift the players.
They managed that and the 2-2 draw was quickly dedicated to the
memory of Flahavan. Crouch opened his account for the Blues and Jason Crowe doubled the lead in the first half. It was all going so well but the second half so the start of something that would happen a lot to Pompey over the year – last minute comebacks – and it was a somewhat bitter-sweet taste to the point. What it did emphasise though was that Pompey could cut it with the best in the division.
The early warning signs were already starting to appear however with a shocking defeat at home to Colchester in the Worthington Cup. Even the home debut for Prosinecki, yes that's Robert Prosinecki - European star, couldn't change the game. Mark Burchill's introduction saw champagne football come to Fratton Park against Palace and Grimsby and Pompey were second in the table, a 4-1 away win at Barnsley – including a volley from Vincent – confirmed Pompey's position as one of the teams to watch in the division. Few could predict that the season would go so badly wrong.
Perhaps the best game of the season came with a 2-1 win against Man City but Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi in goal would soon become a villain and a scapegoat for Pompey's shocking downturn in fortunes. The Japanese number one was a record signing for the club in October, but it would not all be plain sailing for the keeper once the shaky defence started leaking goals.
A 4-goal defeat against Crewe signified the end of Pompey's form
and few could believe that The Blues could lose so heavily to what was regarded as a ‘weaker' team. The lowest point came in January when Pompey lost to third division strugglers Leyton Orient. This left most fans' calling for Rix's head. Infact Graham Rix was sacked but reinstated the next morning after negotiations with his agent. From this moment on, Rix was once again a marked man and it was only a matter of time before Redknapp was installed as boss.
West Brom 5 Portsmouth 0 was the latest result that hammered yet another nail in Rix's coffin. This time though, it was Dave Beasant in goal, and some blamed him for Pompey's downturn in fortunes – this site included – Rix couldn't believe that this game was his anniversary and others couldn't believe he had lasted a year due to Mandaric's famous impatience.
Rix's tenure finally ended after an abject performance against Sheffield Wednesday. After months of turning the job down, Redknapp was finally manager, Top scorer Crouch was sold for £6million and Todorov brought in. With Howe, Summerbell and Wilson arriving on deadline day, it very quickly became a team fashioned by Redknapp. However Harry has promised that six or seven players could be brought in to ensure a better season next year.
A terrible loss against Watford that Harry described as ‘a load of old crap' spelled out to the Fratton Faithful just how bad Pompey can be. The loss against Manchester City was to be expected making it results wise a terrible end to a terrible season. On the plus point, Pompey have some talented youngsters who have come on leaps and bounds this season. Hopefully next season, Harry can find that right blend of youth and experience and play offs really will be a reality for this club.
Keep checking the site over the summer for all the transfer news
and gossip first from Fratton Faithful. Regular news updates as well as a World Cup watch are in store before we start to look forward once more to next year with all the pre-season friendlies reviewed on the site. Stay faithful.