Neil Allen's post-match Pompey verdict against Stoke
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00:00Hello, greetings from us, well I'll say Fratton Park, you know where I am because look at
00:05the background, here we are. I thought I'd do a quick video while waiting for John Messina
00:09to come out and dress the press. He's not there, if you see him come behind me just
00:14give me a shout and I'll go down and speak to him. In the meantime, wow, what a performance
00:18from Pompey there. We were just saying, speaking to Andy Moon down there, Pompey were really
00:23comfortable in that second half and that was basically because they scored a goal four
00:29minutes into the second half to make it 3-1. What a crucial moment that was. Terrible defending
00:35from Stoke with Conor Ogilvy at the back post unmarked and they would have two stitches
00:38for finishing it in there. And 3-1 then, Pompey just cruised the rest of the game, really
00:45did. I don't think Stoke had a shot on target, they had one slice to have it didn't they.
00:50So the second half, and I was concerned, if you saw my halftime video, I was a bit concerned
00:54at halftime because obviously Pompey went 2-0 up after nine minutes through Bishop's
01:00penalty and Callum Lange smeared it with an assist, which you don't see an assist from
01:05a goalie that often do you. And then Stoke came into it, they grew into the game, they
01:10dominated possession, they pinged the ball around nicely without necessarily creating
01:14too much and then they scored a goal at the far post for Wilmot, 2-1 and Stoke were just
01:20dictating the play. Pompey couldn't get the ball, Pompey looked dangerous on the break
01:24without doubt every single time, but they will do with people like Lange and Murphy
01:28there. And halftime 2-1, I was a bit concerned about Stoke, I thought it would be a tricky
01:34second half for Pompey, how it finished at the end of the first half. But then the crucial
01:41moment was Conor Ogilvy's third goal of the season, far post and it's in. And from that
01:47point on, Pompey never looked like he was ceding any more goals. If anything, Pompey
01:52looked like the most likely side to score. They just cruised out, this eased the way
02:01to victory. So much like about them, so good at home Pompey, aren't they? So good at home
02:07and again tonight, so many great performances tonight. It's just phenomenal how they played
02:14at home, completely different away from home. Matt Ritchie said to me the other day, the
02:19press works better at home and we've seen that. Pompey have got really good first 11,
02:2612, 13, even with injuries, they've got that and we all know they need to strengthen. But
02:30they've got some good players there and we're seeing it. The players are injury free, people
02:34like Murphy and Ritchie and Lange and Bishop. And I tell you what, Jordan Williams tonight,
02:40he got a standing ovation when he came off late on. Absolutely outstanding at right back.
02:45Everything came off him. His distribution was superb, his tackling, brilliant. We've
02:50not seen too much of him through injury, shoved in at seven and a half at times. He needs
02:55to run on the side. But he was a class act and we were just saying there that Stoke spent
02:59a lot of money on their team this season. But the best player to pitch tonight was a
03:03free transfer from Barnsley. And that was Williams, absolutely outstanding. Lee says
03:09pots as well. Yeah, so many good performances tonight, really encouraged by that. And then
03:15there was a moment as well, which Stoke are going to moan about, late on with Terry Devlin
03:20did a crunching tackle. He got there ahead of the man for the ball and he got the ball
03:27and took the man as well a bit and the player came off injured. So we expect to see Stoke
03:32moaning about that. But Stoke have no complaints about the game. They didn't even turn up second
03:37half, which is strange considering how they played third half. But again, we'll put it
03:41down to the timing of Ogilvy's goal. Perfect, in front of the frat and end, far post, goal.
03:47So another win at home for Pompey and now it's West Brom away. And it's a good debate
03:53there to be had. Do you write that off and rest people like Atkinson, especially with
03:57Millwall coming up as well next week, midweek? So they've got to look at that situation as
04:02well. Perhaps rotate, I don't know. But again, they can't keep playing the same players every
04:06single game. They've got to look at that. But that's the cause of the squad. But there you go.
04:11So Pompey, 3-1, really impressive. This remarkable frat and run continues. Absolutely outstanding.
04:18And Pompey now, 18th. Last time they played Stoke, Pompey were bottom. So that shows you
04:24how much his team has improved since Hull. I'll put it down to Hull, really. John Massino,
04:31second anniversary this week, and he's still doing superbly here, isn't he, really? Pompey
04:35have got a fighting chance of staying up now. Three points clear of the relegation
04:39zone. Strong at home. They just need to pick up some points away from home. But let's just
04:42enjoy the night. 3-1 Pompey. Thoroughly deserved. Outstanding. Thank you.