What a contrast to Friday! Unless you are a Pompey fan, this result and performance means absolutely nothing. It was hard to make out what happened today, especially from my "mole's eye" view (row B) directly behind the goal. From my ankle height observations it didn't look like anyone played particularly well. Alan Pardew claimed to be very disappointed and said that his team was tense. Certainly Pompey had every reason to relax and enjoy the occasion whereas the Royals were still allegedly looking for points to secure a play-off place. In the end the home side strolled to three points and looked likely champions. Uncovered seating always seems to kill the atmosphere anyway, but I don't think I was alone in expecting very little for Reading from this game. It was a nice sunny day and neither the away fans or players seemed that bothered about the result. In the end Rotherham and Wolves did the job for us by beating Ipswich and Norwich respectively. If we can't get a point from our next three games to clinch a play-off spot we don't deserve it anyway!

In the opening exchanges both sides were guilty of some sloppy passing, but Portsmouth looked to marginally more in control in midfield. Hahnemann had to make the first save from Quashie in the third minute. Todorov and Pericard were looking sharp and Williams and Brown were working hard to contain them. Brown went off injured after fifteen minutes and was replaced by Mackie. Almost immediately Foxe went close with a header. A few minutes later Pompey were ahead through Pericard following a swift break from midfield by Kevin Harper. The result seemed inevitable from that point on.

Reading struggled to get a grip in midfield and failed. Everything seemed to be going through Harper, who to his credit was always looking to get involved. Unfortunately he didn't have one of his better games, and he was being closed down very quickly. When he did find space, he over hit or misdirected his passes. He was not alone however, everyone was at it. I think Pompey's midfield had the edge in guile and experience. The only serious effort before half time from Reading was a long range dipping effort from Newman easily saved by Hislop. On the stroke of half time Hahnemann came for a cross and didn't make it. From the resulting scramble Pericard hammered it high into the net from the edge of the area to send Reading in at half time with a lot to do in the second half.

Reading raised their game slightly after the break but not really enough to trouble Pompey. Once again they posed more of a threat with Henderson supporting Forster. Shorey tested Hislop with a well struck low shot on fifty-five minutes. Shortly after, Forster who was receiving some rough treatment from Festa, wriggled past the Italian defender in the box, and had he been more determined might have got some reward, but he was more intent on falling over than scoring and his appeals were ignored.

It was hard to see exactly what was going on up the other end but there were a few scrambles which seemed to excite the home fans. One thing however was crystal clear. On sixty-seven minutes Todorov went on a solo run which took him past the Reading defence and he stroked the ball in with some style. Game over. Portsmouth were then happy to let Reading pass the ball about in front of their defence and wait for the moves to break down. They knew they had done their job.

I don't foresee any problems taking three points from a doomed Grimsby on Saturday. The last two games will be mainly to do with keeping free from injuries and bookings. I don't think it matters who we play in the play-offs we are capable of beating all of them. What ever happens it has been a great first season back in Division One. As for today, the most important lesson to be learned is not to ring up too soon when booking your ticket for away games and end up in the trench behind the goal!
Report by John Wells