Pompey 2 - Everton 1
Paul Hart and Peter Storrie's names had already been entered on to the hit list.
Now Peter Crouch has boldly gone and joined them.
The sinning trio might like to give Greece a wide berth this summer when it comes to plotting their holiday destination.
Any welcome from the natives would be strictly underwhelming judging from the events of the past week.
It's Crouch's own fault, mind, another two goals in victory over Everton makes it three in two games for the England international.
As if Theofanis Gekas and his compatriots needed any more Pompey obstacles placed in their path.
If he thought his current Fratton Park predicament couldn't get any worse, well it just did.
Now the 'out-of-sorts' striker some fans were urging to make way for the ever-frustrated Greek has found his scoring touch again.
And there ebbs away another opportunity for the on-loan man to squeeze his way into first-team proceedings.
At this rate, Gekas will be begging to feature in the reserves out of sheer desperation to play English football before his loan spell is up in nine weeks' time.
Then again, maybe not.
Pompey's latest match was all about Crouch, now bang back in form and the undisputed talisman in the fight against relegation.
Hart's men don't score too many goals. The centre midfield don't get any, the central defenders don't get any. Even before his injury, Jermaine Pennant is not known for his strike rate.
It makes Crouch's input that much more important and – after surviving the drought which had seen him go nine Premier League games without scoring – the goals are beginning to flow again.
The crisp half-volley against Middlesbrough, in the three points which never were, and now against Everton on Saturday.
Two headers – one in each half – and suddenly Fratton Park is flooded with optimism that this is another relegation battle which can be won.
Few would have tipped such an outcome against David Moyes' impressive side, yet that's precisely what the hosts managed to pull off at a sun-drenched south coast.
And spearheading it all was Crouch, nowadays asked to perform as a lone raider, a thankless task he has carried out without dissent or complaint.
Nonetheless, it's proving thoroughly effective as Hart persists with the system he remains convinced is the right way to keep the Blues in the Premier League.
If that doesn't suit a certain Theofanis Gekas, who craves to operate in a strike pairing, then so be it.
Takis Fyssas, do your worst the next time you choose to chastise Storrie over the criminal underuse of the golden boy of Greek football.
At this moment in time there isn't even an argument why the errant loanee should be included on a match day.
Believe it or not, Pompey are doing just fine without the presence of his excellence.
That goes for the reserves as well following victory at Stoke earlier in the week.
To think there were some people calling for Crouch to be dropped up until two games ago in a bid to kick-start the goalscoring into life.
Thankfully, Hart stuck by his guns and as a result the Blues are an encouraging three points clear of the relegation zone.
It's not the first time the Pompey boss has been questioned either and his pre-Everton selection policy certainly raised a few eyebrows beforehand.
Having last week stressed the importance of putting round pegs in round holes, Hart opted to put his right back on the right-hand side of midfield and a centre-back at right-back.
Not quite practising what he had been preaching, but faced with the headache of coping without the sidelined Jermaine Pennant that was his answer.
Even Harry Redknapp had consistently resisted the temptation of fielding Glen Johnson there during his days at the club.
But with John Utaka's regard now seemingly at an all-time low and David Nugent entrenched on the left-hand side, Hart uncovered the alternative.
And in fairness to the former Nottingham Forest supremo, it worked tremendously.
Allowing Johnson to get hold of possession earlier, it enabled the England man more time to cause his damage down the right-hand side.
Meanwhile, behind him, Kaboul was defensively tight while coming forward doesn't faze a player genuinely comfortable on the ball in whatever situation.
Of course, the outlook wasn't quite so positive after a mere four minutes, by which stage Everton had already taken the lead during a nervy start from the hosts.
Sylvain Distin's clumsy challenge on Louis Saha outside the box sent the striker sprawling and up stepped Leighton Baines to net via the inside of the post.
Crouch, however, popped up to equalise on 22 minutes, sparked by the corner, that should not have been awarded, by Johnson off Baines.
Replays show a goal kick should have been given, instead referee Peter Walton pointed to the flag and from the resulting delivery Johnson headed the ball back across goal for Crouch to net.
There was certainly plenty of endeavour from both sides, but goalscoring opportunities were proving scarce amid all the flying tackles.
Then came the all-important second goal on 75 minutes, with that man Crouch applying the finishing touch.
The corner came in from the right and Pompey's leading scorer shrugged off Joleon Lescott to powerfully head home.
Sean Davis was desperately unlucky not to add to the scoreline further when his vicious 25-yard half-volley crashed against the post and bounced to safety.
That was to be it as far as goal-mouth action was concerned with, for once, no late drama unfolding.
Come the final whistle, it was Crouch who was the hero – well, in these parts anyway.
Gekas, wherever he may have been, must have been giving a rueful shake of the head, knowing his task has been made that much more difficult.
Still, at least there is one place Crouch can be outshone – the reserves.
And they're playing at West Leigh Park tomorrow night.
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Weather for Portsmouth
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 14 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North west
