05/11/05: Matchday #12: Pompey 0 Wigan Athletic 2
There were no fireworks at Fratton Park this bonfire night as Pompey produced one of their worst Premiership displays ever as Arjan De Zeeuw would have the last laugh over his former manager. Dario Silva had an early chance as he failed to lob the Wigan 'keeper with a header but that was as good as it got for Portsmouth as in the second half Pascal Chimbonda would have a free header on the far post from a corner following non-existant marking. Then as the home side tried to create an attack Wigan broke it down and then counter-attacked swiftly as Jason Roberts; another player formerly on Pompeys' books slotted home a second and once again, Pompey fans left Fratton Park frustrated and angry having seen all the previous good work last week come undone.
19/11/05: Matchday #13: Liverpool 3 Pompey 0
Speculation continued to grow about the position of Alain Perrin and this game proved to be the final straw. I can't even remember Pompey having a decent chance in this game such was Liverpool's dominance but it was obvious that Perrin had set his team out for a draw by only playing one up front. Liverpool would find themselves 1-0 up following a dodgy penalty decision after Zenden was apparently "tripped" by Andy Griffin. Peter Crouch; still looking for his first Liverpool goal stepped up and thankfully Ashdown saved it to spare us the humiliation of an ex-Scummer breaking his duck against us, even if Zenden did knock in the rebound. Liverpools luck continued as Cisse crossed from the right wing only to see his cross fly into the top corner. By then the game was over however the crowd seemed baffled by Perrins' subs as despite being 2-0 down he takes Lua Lua off to be replaced by Mbesuma and then Hughes is taken off for Skopelitis in what was a negative tactical change. The Pompey fans chanted "You don't know what you're doing!" and "We want Perrin out!" which caused other Pompey fans to jeer. It was a real dark day for Pompey fans divided when they should have been united and nobody seemed to care when Morientes added a third for Liverpool. The only positive to come out of this day? Scummers had let a 3-0 half time lead slip as they lost to Leeds 4-3!
After this game Alain Perrin would be sacked from Portsmouth after a very poor start to the season, fuelling more rumours about who would take the vacant managers job, with Neil Warnock being favourite for the post after being granted permission to talk to Milan Mandaric. Meanwhile it would be Joe Jordan who would be in temporary charge for the visit of the Champions.
26/11/05: Matchday #14: Pompey 0 Chelsea 2
Things didn't get any easier here but then nobody expected anything but an away win I would imagine. Pompey battled hard but Chelsea took the lead after Hernan Crespo scored a poachers goal. Frank Lampard scored a penalty in the second half after Joe Cole was brought down in the area. He ran rings around us all game in a match that was instantly forgettable for Pompey was the woe increased around Fratton Park.
A dire November would be capped with rumours of Harry Redknapp coming back to the club, something both Milan and Lowe strongly denied but there was a certain feeling that something big was about to happen. Until then, we were left in the mire going into the final month of an eventful 2005.
Premiership Table After Matchday #14
15th: Fulham: 12pts
16th: West Brom: 11pts
17th: Portsmouth: 10pts
18th: Everton: 10pts
19th: Birmingham: 9pts
20th: Sunderland: 5pts