Two goals from Peter Crouch and a late Hermann Hreidarsson header ensured Pompey exited the UEFA Cup with some pride in tact with a comfortable win against Heerenveen.
Tony Adams elected to play a second-string side containing the likes of Jamie Ashdown and Marc Wilson rather than risk the big guns for the rather meaningless game, but it was an enjoyable watch and the attendance & atmosphere wasn't as bad as I thought it may be.
Wilson looked a bit nervous but generally had a solid game at right back. It was his cross that Crouch headed in for the opener, having missed a couple of earlier good chances. He then added a second just a couple of minutes later after knocking in the rebound following Kanu's shot.
Heerenveen were as poor a side as I have seen at Fratton Park this season yet still missed a couple of good chances and also hit the post during the first half. Thankfully the Dutch side's chances were kept to a minimum in the second half as Pompey tightened up the defence.
Crouch is probably wondering why he didn't take the match ball home after the game as Brian Vandenbussche denied him twice late in the game but Pompey got a deserved third goal when Hermann headed in Glen Little's free kick.
Did any of the fringe players perform well enough to play against Bolton on Saturday? Probably not, though I would personally consider giving Hreidarsson a start and play Belhadj further forward as the Icelander impressed the most, and at least deserves a chance after such a solid campaign last season.
But now Pompey's European campaign has come to an end. It's disappointing but I've enjoyed the experience a lot and I'm hungry for more big European nights and away trips to different countries. Who knows? Maybe we can qualify again in the future and be more successful next time.
Of course, this game was just a distraction from the big news of the day, and that is that Pompey have confirmed that they have accepted a "substantial" offer from Real Madrid for Lassana Diarra rumoured to be £21.5 million.
More on that story as it develops....
Pompey Player Ratings
Jamie Ashdown: 6 - Made a couple of decent stops.
Marc Wilson: 6 - Did alright.
Hermann Hreidarsson: 7 - A goalscoring rock.
Noe Pamarot: 6 - Solid enough.
Nadir Belhadj: 7 - A threat down the left.
Arnold Mvuemba: 6 - An improvement from the Newcastle game.
Richard Hughes: 6 - Battled hard.
Papa Bouba Diop: 6 - Average showing.
Armand Traore: 6 - Still can't cross when in a good position.
Peter Crouch: 8 - Should have had more than two.
Kanu: 6 - Touch deserted him at times.
Substitutes
David James
Sylvain Distin
Sean Davis (Diop 82): N/A - Late switch.
Niko Kranjcar
Glen Little (Traore 62): 6 - Some good deliveries.
Jermain Defoe
Tony Adams elected to play a second-string side containing the likes of Jamie Ashdown and Marc Wilson rather than risk the big guns for the rather meaningless game, but it was an enjoyable watch and the attendance & atmosphere wasn't as bad as I thought it may be.
Wilson looked a bit nervous but generally had a solid game at right back. It was his cross that Crouch headed in for the opener, having missed a couple of earlier good chances. He then added a second just a couple of minutes later after knocking in the rebound following Kanu's shot.
Heerenveen were as poor a side as I have seen at Fratton Park this season yet still missed a couple of good chances and also hit the post during the first half. Thankfully the Dutch side's chances were kept to a minimum in the second half as Pompey tightened up the defence.
Crouch is probably wondering why he didn't take the match ball home after the game as Brian Vandenbussche denied him twice late in the game but Pompey got a deserved third goal when Hermann headed in Glen Little's free kick.
Did any of the fringe players perform well enough to play against Bolton on Saturday? Probably not, though I would personally consider giving Hreidarsson a start and play Belhadj further forward as the Icelander impressed the most, and at least deserves a chance after such a solid campaign last season.
But now Pompey's European campaign has come to an end. It's disappointing but I've enjoyed the experience a lot and I'm hungry for more big European nights and away trips to different countries. Who knows? Maybe we can qualify again in the future and be more successful next time.
Of course, this game was just a distraction from the big news of the day, and that is that Pompey have confirmed that they have accepted a "substantial" offer from Real Madrid for Lassana Diarra rumoured to be £21.5 million.
More on that story as it develops....
Pompey Player Ratings
Jamie Ashdown: 6 - Made a couple of decent stops.
Marc Wilson: 6 - Did alright.
Hermann Hreidarsson: 7 - A goalscoring rock.
Noe Pamarot: 6 - Solid enough.
Nadir Belhadj: 7 - A threat down the left.
Arnold Mvuemba: 6 - An improvement from the Newcastle game.
Richard Hughes: 6 - Battled hard.
Papa Bouba Diop: 6 - Average showing.
Armand Traore: 6 - Still can't cross when in a good position.
Peter Crouch: 8 - Should have had more than two.
Kanu: 6 - Touch deserted him at times.
Substitutes
David James
Sylvain Distin
Sean Davis (Diop 82): N/A - Late switch.
Niko Kranjcar
Glen Little (Traore 62): 6 - Some good deliveries.
Jermain Defoe