Pompey 3 - Sunderland 1
It was time for an all-out charm offensive. Paul Hart may not be a political animal with a penchant for submitting excessive expenses claims.
But last night he needed to pull out the stops to convince the Pompey doubters he is the right man to lead the club to future prosperity.
He certainly provided a compelling argument.
Delivering a manifesto consisting of the type of attacking football glaringly absent from his reign previously, Hart had many eating out of his hand.
No question about it, they'll be plenty more votes cast in favour of his prospective appointment on the back of the Sunderland triumph.
Of course, the man whose opinion counts most of all in the club hierarchy – Peter Storrie – has already indicated his favourable thoughts on the matter.
Perhaps now some of the supporters are coming round to his way of thinking.
For while John Utaka played a blinder on the field, his present manager brought the house down off it.
Hart cast aside the stale, defensive football which had previously provided the shackles to his Fratton Park managerial career.
Instead – with Premier League safety already confirmed – he unleashed a twin strikeforce for the very first time since taking over the helm.
The result was three goals in a Premier League game for Pompey for the first time since a 3-2 victory over Blackburn at the same venue back in November.
What a way to banish a goal drought which had stretched 468 top-flight minutes over six painful matches.
Talk about the entertainment factor flooding back – no wonder the crowd revelled in it.
And just for good measure, Hart produced his trump card in the closing stages in the form of Linvoy Primus to a rapturous reception.
Hearts and minds and all that. Nonetheless, it was inspired.
The former Nottingham Forest boss has received a torrent of criticism by way of thanks for his remarkable efforts in keeping Portsmouth Football Club in the Premier League.
Heading into last night's encounter, he had two games to show he is no one-trick pony, that he does indeed possess the tactical acumen to create attractive football.
He emphatically proved that in just 45 second-half minutes against Sunderland.
Granted, the first half was instantly forgettable, summed up rather neatly by the man himself afterwards as 'watching paint dry'.
Peter Crouch's header against the post after good work from Glen Johnson on four minutes was all the hosts managed to muster during that period.
Instead it was Sunderland who posed the biggest threat with Steed Malbranque, in particular, wasting two glorious chances.
Kenwyne Jones also saw a 42nd-minute header strike the post before flashing across the face of goal and bouncing out for a goal kick.
Unfortunately, that was it – then Hart conjured up his masterstroke.
He had already elected to field an attacking line-up from the off, involving Kanu operating in the hole behind Crouch and Utaka backed up by those three dogs of war Hayden Mullins, Richard Hughes and Sean Davis.
It didn't work, yet the manager had enough imagination to fix it. With devastating effect.
Armand Traore entered the fray for his first appearance since January – and promptly added pace and movement down the left to destroy Sunderland.
With Johnson pushed up on the opposite flank to accommodate Younes Kaboul at right-back, the hosts seized the initiative.
Cue a Blues bombardment as the visitors found themselves penned into their half.
Of course, it wouldn't be Pompey without a hitch and it was the Black Cats who took the lead on 59 minutes, albeit through a rapid counter attack.
Calum Davenport dispossessed Peter Crouch level with the penalty area before embarking on a lung-busting run which culminated in a cross with Jones prodded home.
Harsh on the Blues, but within 90 seconds it was all level.
Grant Leadbitter inadvertently diverted the ball into the path of Utaka who held off a challenge – and the sounding of referee Alan Wiley's whistle – to brilliantly finish.
Despite Wiley blowing for a foul on the Nigerian, the goal was allowed to stand and it was 1-1.
Barely seven minutes later and the impressive Asmir Begovic – making his debut in place of the injured David James – sent over a booming goal-kick which was missed by Anton Ferdinand.
Utaka swooped, only to be thwarted by Phil Bardsley, who accidentally knocked the ball over the line to claim the goal for himself.
It was just left for Utaka to play in Traore two minutes from the end, the on-loan Arsenal man driving a powerful effort into the far corner to complete the scoreline.
It remains to be seen whether those out of contract such as Sol Campbell, Hermann Hreidarsson and Sean Davis will remain next season.
But, judging from his Fratton Park address, it appears Hart could well be.
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Weather for Portsmouth
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
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Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
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Temperature: 14 C to 23 C
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