Ex-Portsmouth skipper Brett Pitman: No regrets - it was right decision to pass to Viv Solomon-Otabor

It defined Viv Solomon-Otabor’s Pompey contribution – and effectively ended the Fratton faithful’s hopes of automatic promotion in 2018-19.

Nonetheless, Pitman is adamant it was the correct decision.

With the match entering the 73rd minute and the scoreline at 2-2, the striker bore down on goalkeeper Aaron Chapman and unselfishly squared to substitute Solomon-Otabor.

The loanee from Birmingham rolled the ball into an empty net – only for an offside flag to cut into celebrations.

Within two minutes, Ivan Toney had grabbed Posh’s winner, leaving Kenny Jackett’s side destined for the play-offs against Sunderland.

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Speaking to The News following his Fratton Park departure last week, Pitman said: ‘Do you know what, I’ve watched it back quite a few times and wouldn’t do anything different, to be honest.

‘It’s a tap in for Viv if he stays onside, whereas I had a one-on-one with the goalie from a tightish angle.

‘I think the right thing to do was square it. Unfortunately, he went a little too early. It's just one of those things, as frustrating as it is.

‘Obviously if I knew he was going to run offside I would have shot myself, but at that moment you don’t really have time to think.

‘You know he’s there, but I don’t know whether he’s offside. I presumed he would have been level or behind me.

‘You trust your team-mate to a point - but I don't necessarily blame Viv for it, it’s just one of those things.

‘He was probably a bit eager to get in there. Nine times out of 10 you roll that square, you score and it’s not offside. It just happened to be the one other time.

‘I just think maybe he was a little over exuberant to get there. He obviously didn’t mean to run just ahead of me.

‘Having watched it back, he could have held his run, he’s quick enough he could have been two yards behind me and still got there. It’s just one of those things.

‘It goes through your head to shoot, you have a split second to make that decision. If I thought the right decision was to shoot, I would have.

‘But in that instance I thought the right decision was to square it and for him to tap it in – and I still think that’s the right decision.’

Pompey had Accrington at Fratton Park the following match, but were reliant on others to slip up.

Instead Barnsley claimed the second automatic promotion spot behind Luton, with Jackett’s men coming fourth.

They subsequently lost 1-0 to Sunderland on aggregate in the play-off semi-finals.

He added: ‘We’ll never know how costly that was. It would certainly have put pressure on Barnsley and next we had Accrington at home.

‘It wasn’t to be. Ultimately, over the 46 games and the play-offs, we weren't good enough to go up. That's how it is.’

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