Carlisle pay for point – literally

admin

The circus continues to reside at Pompey

One of the most hilarious and totally bizarre incidents took place at the weekend before Carlisle’s encounter with Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

The Carlisle team bus pulled up to the club car park and was told by a Portsmouth steward they must provide £20 before receiving permission to enter.

In all my years of following, watching, writing, talking, breathing football, I have never heard about an incident as ridiculous as this before the kick-off of a professional football match.

Stricken

The bus driver was astonished, but even more bewildered was the Carlisle United boss, Greg Abbott. Luckily for the team bus, the directors were on board and one of them provided the necessary funds so the players were able to gain access to the stricken club.

After the game, in the post-match interview, Abbott stated that he hoped the Hampshire club would be kind enough to return the £20 as Carlisle are also skint.

Although our manager could see the funny side to this soap-opera, it must be very worrying to see if you are a genuine Pompey supporter. How embarrassing for the club is this latest stunt?

The game ended in a 1-1 draw, and this was another valuable point in our quest to reach the magic total of 50 points and secure another season in English football’s third tier.

Record

However, for the home side it was another game without a win; the record now stands at 21 and counting and it seems only a matter of time before the club will be relegated to League Two.

Not many people seem to feel sorry for Pompey, after all, the problems they currently possess have mostly been brought on by themselves.

However, I do feel some sympathy for the Portsmouth supporters who are a great bunch down on the south coast and have had to endure so much heartache in the last three seasons.

It was only in 2008 that the club were FA Cup winners and also appeared in the final two seasons later against Chelsea. How times have changed – the club are looking in a perilous situation at present and will surely be playing the likes of Wycombe Wanderers and Dagenham & Redbridge next season.

Rebuild

I can only wish the club and its supporters well for the coming season as they look to rebuild once, and if, the Pompey Supporters’ Trust takes full ownership of the club.

With our own season heading into the abyss of a mid-table finish, I am starting to feel slightly relieved.

Only a couple of months ago it seemed we were destined for a relegation scrap but the free signing of former MK Dons defender Sean O’Hanlon has somewhat strengthened our leaky defence.

Our visitors this weekend are the Buckinghamshire side, who have slipped down the League One table to 12th position and will require three points at Brunton Park to have any realistic chance of still making the end of season lottery.

Lately, the Blues have become a lot harder to beat and my prediction is that a score draw looks is likely as we endeavour to reach the required points tally to confirm another League One term, which will surely await us.