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The Burnley team had a solid look about it, on paper, with Carlisle and Duff at the centre of defence. Thompson replaced Wallace and started up front with Jay-Rod - our only change. The travelling Clarets - about 400 or so hardy souls - were surprisingly optimistic before kick-off. The fairly grim surroundings of Fratton Park on a wet January night didn't worry them - even if the only apparent "Premiership" legacy was the name on a particularly smelly burger van. All down to "the Eddie effect", perhaps?
We played well from the start. There was lots of energy, and, it seemed, a greater self-belief within the team. Portsmouth had their fair share of quality players - Utaka, Kanu and worryingly, given "The Curse of the Ex", David Nugent. They were a big, physically imposing side - we would need to be alert.
Wade was on particularly lively form, Mears and Fox also looked for every chance to get forward. A Fox corner in the 12th minute was well met by Michael Duff, forcing keeper Ashdown into lively action. Play ebbed and flowed, as both teams tried to play constructive, attacking football. And then, in the 31st minute -an away goal!. Danny Fox did well to get in a cross from the deep left, and Jay-Rod finished calmly at the near post. Cue delight amongst the travelling Clarets.
But it didn't last. Kanu - surprisingly athletic and supple - turned silkily to set up the always-threatening Utaka, who took his chance beautifully. As the man behind me had just said - ;"How often have we thrown away a lead when we're away from home this season?"
And then - a sublime goal from the most unexpected of sources. Ashdown saved really well from a full-blooded Thompson strike, the ball bobbled around…and Dean Marney scored with a beautiful overhead kick. There seemed real emotion in the way he carried out his own personal celebration, pointing to the name and number on the back of his shirt.
2-1 away from home with 45 minutes to go. Could we hold out? Well - we did. But it was not pretty. Many on CM have been scornful about "hoofball". I think we saw a fair bit of that last night. We seemed to panic. As another wise old voice in the crowd said after a Carlisle thumped the ball away "That were a real good old-fashioned Division 3 clearance".
But the important thing was - we did hold out. Make no mistake - we deserved our three points, and the players earned them. There was energy, effort, commitment, and team spirit throughout. Not so much in the way of finesse - but that was not what we needed.
We celebrated at the end, and Eddie called the team together for a Bournemouth-style huddle. Let's hope he brings other aspects of this former club's style to the team. In terms of desire and commitment - we have them. There is a lot to build on.
My man of the match was Wade Elliott, but there were many contenders.
Play up, Burnley!!