Exclusive:Portsmouth 2 Millwall 1: Neil Allen's verdict - The unlikely band of heroes driving Blues to higher heights
The Blues have climbed to 11th in the Championship following Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Millwall
The first shot was blocked by the head of a grounded Madiodio Dia, while Jenson Metcalfe’s follow up from outside the box also crashed into the defender’s face.
Unperturbed, giving absolutely no consideration to his health and wellbeing, he sprang to his feet once more, ready for duty. The fight wasn’t over, Pompey had a goal to defend, a victory to pursue.
Regan Poole was the next to intervene, his outstretched right foot thwarting Tristan Crama’s attempt on a goal laid under siege by a relentless Millwall hammering on the door.
A fortnight ago, few of the Fratton faithful could have anticipated the unfamiliar centre-half partnership being quite so effective during the ongoing injury absences of Benjy Arthur and Conor Shaughnessy.
Likewise, Iyad Mohamed, an import from Portugal’s top flight previously totalling 22 minutes in a Pompey shirt, who has subsequently established himself a pivotal performer during this run of 10 points from 12 matches.
As for the plausibility of Thomas Waddingham re-emerging from his treatment table to register a first goal in 21 months with a late winner in front of a jubilant Fratton End, clearly that would be ridiculously far-fetched.
Season transformed
Within 14 days, the Blues’ season has been transformed, led by an unlikely band of heroes who couldn’t even break into John Mousinho’s starting XI a mere six weeks ago.
As a consequence, the 11th-placed Blues are presently 10 points clear of the Championship relegation zone. More inspirationally, they’re now also two points adrift of the expanded play-offs.
Certainly it’s testament to Dia and Mohamed’s flourishing progress that when both were named in Saturday’s line up against Millwall, there was no public outcry questioning Mousinho’s sanity.
There are fine lines in football, sliding doors moments which decide destinies. Brett Pitman’s pass to Viv Solomon-Otabor, Pedro Mendes’ second goal, Cameron McGeehan’s penalty.
As it stands, on a significantly smaller scale, perhaps Ebou Adams’ 89th-minute winner over 10-man Sheffield United could be a season-defining moment which exchanged a potential relegation battle for an unexpected play-off push.
Granted, these are early days, just 12 matches into the campaign. Certainly it’s wise not to get too giddy over occupying the final play-off spot for a few hours before everybody else was presented with the opportunity to catch up.
Still, for those fleeting moments following the early kick-off, there were tantalising signs that perhaps, just perhaps, it has been decreed that Pompey’s Championship season will offer so much more than the annual relegation scrap.
Awful spectacle
The midweek trip to Wolves demonstrated that a depleted squad deprived of 10 players could be rotated and still come away with a point, thereby emphasising welcome strength in depth.
On Saturday, Marlon Pack, Marko Milovanovic, Zak Swanson and Ryan Kavuma-McQueen were all restored, helping the Blues to a 2-1 triumph and extending the current run to one defeat in eight fixtures.
The game was an awful spectacle, impacted by Storm Boelo, albeit the new £1.5m playing surface held up admirably. Regardless, it would be a match impacted by mistakes, often through the conditions.
Not that Nicolas Schmid deserves any mitigation for his dreadful error on six minutes which gifted Millwall the lead, having passed the ball straight to Metcalfe following a goal kick.
The midfielder simply took a touch and applied a right-footed finish, much to the disbelief of those present.
Within 10 minutes, however, the Blues were level after Adrian Segecic’s free-kick from the right was diverted past his own keeper at the near post by Lyndon Dykes.
Fortuitous late winner
In truth, from that point, neither side offered much attacking quality in worsening conditions as the rain continued to fall relentlessly, although Millwall gradually began to dominate Pompey’s half, particularly after the break.
Then, on 82 minutes, referee Tom Reeves gave the Blues the advantage after Adams had been fouled, allowing Tyrese Shade a glimpse of goal.
With the substitute unable to capitalise, Millwall skipper Jake Cooper’s clearance ricocheted off Waddingham’s right foot and into the net, right in front of an appreciative Fratton End.
The sponsors rather generously awarded the Australian man of the match for his 19-minute goal-scoring cameo from the bench, while many would have debated between Poole, Dia and Mohamed.
In the aftermath of Southampton, who could have possibly anticipated that?