What would have we done without Hermann Hreidarsson in the last few games? Two goals (or maybe three) and some rock solid defensive performances have been vital in ensuring Pompey have still got a good foothold in the relegation battle.
The Icelandic defender has offered more solidity at left back than the gung-ho Nadir Belhadj and is vastly more experienced than Armand Traore when dealing with the harsh reality of the battle at the bottom.
Sure, he lacks pace and can be exposed by wingers with pace and trickery but his sheer height and strength make up for it when balls are being crossed into our box.
His character is also something that shouldn't be undervalued either. When you're down in a disheartening relegation scrap you need nutters like Hermann to keep spirits up.
He excelled last season and I thought he was very unfortunate to be dropped after the first league game of the season to accommodate Armand Traore and Nadir Belhadj. I wonder how fewer goals we'd have conceded if Hermann was a regular this season.
What I do know is that we've looked more solid and has arguably been our best performer since his return to the first team, but more importantly his attacking influence has been important for Pompey claiming some much needed points recently.
His goal against Liverpool should have counted for more but without his header against City last week we may well have panicked and conceded yet another late goal if we only had a slender lead to protect.
Then of course his strike at Stoke on Saturday may just be the most important of the season, although I'm still crediting the goal to Ryan Shawcross as much as Hreidarsson will want to claim it.
Still, if the Hermannator keeps going he'll end up Pompey's top scorer by the end of the season!
If Tony Adams did something right during his time at Pompey then it was convincing Hreidarsson to stay at Fratton Park and resist the lure of Glasgow's Old Firm by giving him regular football when it mattered.
Who knows? That decision could well be one of the most important of the season.
The Icelandic defender has offered more solidity at left back than the gung-ho Nadir Belhadj and is vastly more experienced than Armand Traore when dealing with the harsh reality of the battle at the bottom.
Sure, he lacks pace and can be exposed by wingers with pace and trickery but his sheer height and strength make up for it when balls are being crossed into our box.
His character is also something that shouldn't be undervalued either. When you're down in a disheartening relegation scrap you need nutters like Hermann to keep spirits up.
He excelled last season and I thought he was very unfortunate to be dropped after the first league game of the season to accommodate Armand Traore and Nadir Belhadj. I wonder how fewer goals we'd have conceded if Hermann was a regular this season.
What I do know is that we've looked more solid and has arguably been our best performer since his return to the first team, but more importantly his attacking influence has been important for Pompey claiming some much needed points recently.
His goal against Liverpool should have counted for more but without his header against City last week we may well have panicked and conceded yet another late goal if we only had a slender lead to protect.
Then of course his strike at Stoke on Saturday may just be the most important of the season, although I'm still crediting the goal to Ryan Shawcross as much as Hreidarsson will want to claim it.
Still, if the Hermannator keeps going he'll end up Pompey's top scorer by the end of the season!
If Tony Adams did something right during his time at Pompey then it was convincing Hreidarsson to stay at Fratton Park and resist the lure of Glasgow's Old Firm by giving him regular football when it mattered.
Who knows? That decision could well be one of the most important of the season.