Pompey Paper View

Last updated : 17 April 2005 By Brian Cartlidge

Bored fans pull blank

You have to pity the 28,883 souls who paid to watch. The only consolation for both sets of supporters as they trudged away feeling short-changed and bored was that, barring a disaster, they will still be watching Premiership football next season, although that may be viewed by some as a punishment judging by the boos at the end. Safety clearly is not very exciting. Telegraph

Pompey edge closer to survival

A match that for the most part lacked shape and substance ended, somewhat predictably, goalless. Strip out a lively spell of goalmouth action at the start of the second half and it was a mundane affair. Observer

Pompey keep faith

Milan Mandaric, the Portsmouth chairman, has called it “a terrible, terrible year.” But here was further evidence that with new manager Alain Perrin at the helm their road to hell could be over. Birmingham manager Steve Bruce, described the game as “painful at times, absolute agony,” as Pompey celebrated their first point on the road since Boxing Day. The Times

Pompey still rising under Perrin

Two games into his career as a Premiership manager, Portsmouth's Alain Perrin still awaits his first experience of defeat, having watched his new charges frustrate all of Birmingham's best efforts to follow up last weekend's unexpected point at Chelsea with a fourth win in five at St Andrew's. Independent