Pompey 0 - Chelsea 1
The deal was sealed under unusual circumstances. Nonetheless, Paul Hart's stay in the Fratton Park swivel chair has been lengthened – by 11 games to be precise.
And not even a defeat at the hands of Chelsea was going to be enough to slow down the process.
There was an air of predictability over Hart's extension as caretaker boss until the end of the season.
Realism had already long since set in, the pipe dreams and flight of fancy involving Sven-Goran Eriksson now thankfully grounded.
Pompey have required a boss for the here and now, a real-world figurehead to inspire them up the table and free from the gravitational pull of the relegation zone.
Now they have him.
Apparently, Sacha Gaydamak and Peter Storrie had already made up their minds during a meeting earlier yesterday.
Gaydamak himself was there to witness the performance against Chelsea – a fixture which would end in a 1-0 home defeat.
And it would prove to be a contest which rubber-stamped Hart's appointment.
On the basis of the compelling evidence served in front of a sell-out Fratton Park jury, it's hard to argue.
Since stepping up from his role as director of youth operations, Hart has simply transformed the first-team set-up.
Intriguingly, it's been a remarkable turnaround achieved off the pitch just as much as on it, without so much as a penny spent on player recruitment.
You see, the ingredients were always there, it's just taken a little while to find the right man who can make it all happen.
Perhaps a heavy home defeat last night would have delayed the news.
Perhaps a home hammering would have prompted some serious backtracking by them upstairs.
It was not to be, however, as Pompey turned in a magnificent display to not only cement Hart's position but prove they possesses the talent and know-how to get out of the mess they currently find themselves in.
Granted, the Blues remain two points and two places off the relegation zone with rivals Blackburn, Middlesbrough and Stoke all in action tonight.
But as wet as Fratton Park may have been last night, the optimism sweeping through the club since Adams' departure shows no sign of being dampened.
And that's why today Hart finds himself remaining in the job for another two-and-half months at the very least.
He's not the only one either. Brian Kidd's temporary stay has also been lengthened to the season's end.
Kidd cuts an impressive figure on the touchline, pointing, prowling and portraying a definite sense of dominance.
Together the pair have picked up four points from three games – in itself a massive improvement on their predecessor.
Perhaps more crucial, though, has been their instant ability to restore that creaking defence back to its former glories.
In 22 games, Adams failed to solve those defensive woes. To be accurate, he failed miserably.
And against Chelsea, the subsequent positive influence of Hart and Kidd at the helm was there for all to see.
The former Premier League champions journeyed to the south coast on the back of four straight victories.
Last night it was to reach five, but they were fortunate, how they were fortunate.
Employing what has become Hart's trademark 4-5-1 system with Niko Kranjcar in the hole, Pompey again impressed with their organisation, work-rate and effectiveness.
Not even the unsettling presence of an increasingly waterlogged pitch and the mistakes it was provoking could undo the game plan invariably drilled into the host players.
Adams' teams always looked capable of shipping in goals.
Under Hart, the Blues have added steel to their play and the ability to maintain shape no matter who the opposition or what the conditions.
Sure enough, the new-found resilience – coupled with the resurrection of both Sol Campbell and Sylvain Distin – ensured it was one tough night on the south coast for Chelsea.
It could have been tougher had Petr Cech not pulled off a wondrous 24th-minute save to deny Sean Davis' stinging drive on the run.
The keeper was to come to the rescue again in the second half when David Nugent cleverly spun and bore down on goal only to see his effort parried away.
In a game of few opportunities, Kranjcar then perhaps should have done better than prodding past the post following Peter Crouch's deep ball in.
In the meantime, Chelsea were struggling to create, the belligerently back-tracking Nugent and snapping Davis, in particular, thwarting matters.
Then on the 79th minute, Jose Bosingwa's cross came in from the right and the unmarked Didier Drogba was there to swivel and net.
It was harsh on the hosts from a match they unquestionably deserved a point from.
Still every cloud and all that, especially when every one of them over Fratton Park last night was saturated in water.
And the one bright spot? Paul Hart and Brian Kidd remain in charge.
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Weather for Portsmouth
Sunday 12 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
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Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
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