Why Portsmouth's skirmish underlines the team spirit soundbites that have been made

Despite Kenny Jackett, Karl Robinson, Lee Brown or Sean Raggett all not being able to pinpoint what exactly started the skirmish, it likely erupted from an exchange of words between two opposing players after the 1-1 draw.

Unsavoury viewing, indeed, that will almost certainly land both Pompey and Oxford an FA charge and fine to boot. What’s more, U’s striker Matty Taylor is likely to be slapped with a ban after grabbing Ronan Curtis’ genitals.

Nevertheless, scenes like that won't be condoned by Jackett or the Blues hierarchy. They’ll expect players to conduct themselves better in the future.

But what it did at least underline was the mantra that's been repeated by several players and staff this season.

In the summer, Brown was the first to stress how important team spirit would be if Pompey were to finally remove their League One shackles at the fourth attempt.

After witnessing Wycombe pull off an unimaginable promotion to the Championship, despite having the lowest budget in the division and tipped to go down, the left-back told how camaraderie can be undervalued.

Then Ryan Williams told how Pompey's slimmer squad amid new League One salary cap rules has forged more of a tight-knit group compared to last term.

It was after the Blues' 3-1 victory at Lincoln earlier this month when assistant-boss Joe Gallen said the sense of togetherness was stronger than ever during his three-and-half years at PO4.

Based on their reaction after the final whistle against Oxford, that seems the case.

Players leapt to the defence of each other without hesitation. Some tried to make sure others didn't get into any needless trouble, while others were behind team-mates if things did go further than just a shoving match.

That minute or so highlighted there’s a collective unity in the dressing room.

It was only two months ago after an insipid 2-1 defeat to crisis-club Wigan that sections of supporters were questioning Pompey's desire.

After suffering play-off semi-final defeat for successive years, some wondered how hungry the Blues were to go again and wear their heart on their sleeve for Jackett.

Since that lacklustre loss, Pompey have shot up the table to fourth, beaten promotion rivals such as Sunderland and Lincoln and scored more goals than any other team in the top four divisions of English football.

Those are no signs of downing tools. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.

Pompey will have to deal with the consequences of what happened in the aftermath of their draw with Oxford.

There’ll probably be some tickings off and a few lessons to be heeded.

But it was further evidence that all of the soundbites that have come out of the Fratton camp are true. Team spirit is potent.