Pompey's unlucky Lane streak

[Revolution]

On 5 November 1955, Portsmouth played us at the Lane and came away with a 3-1 win. Nothing odd about that result - we were relegated that year - but it has become significant over the last half a century.

Since then, Pompey have played 22 league games, 2 FA Cup games, and one league cup game at the Lane...and not won any of them. The 22 league game run is the joint longest current run of futility for an away team at the Lane - Bury's draw earlier this year also brought them up to 22 games, and they have 5 winless cup ties to add to it, but if Pompey don't win tonight they'll nudge back in front in terms of winless league games.

10 highlights from this run of non-success:

1970-1: United win 2-0 in both league and cup in our promotion season. This is one of only 4 cup wins for us in the decade.

1984-5: United produce an unexpectedly good second half performance and thrash Pompey 4-1. Glenn Cockerill gets the first with a fine long range lob over Alan Knight after a poor clearance

1985-6: a rare draw at the Lane for Portsmouth late in the season, but it's not enough for them as this result contributes to them just missing promotion. 37 year old Mick Channon plays sweeper for Pompey.

1986-7: this game has come up recently on this board: 4 sent off (all in the first half) for the first time since 1955, resulting in the farcical second half. Mind you, whilst the referee (Kelvin Morton) was certifiable and prone to controversy - he once awarded Palace 8 penalties in 3 games, for example - I remember thinking at the time that all the sendings off were fair enough.

1989-90: Pompey actually take the lead in this game, but Kevin Ball's usual kamikaze act against us sees him sent off, and sub Peter Duffield converts 2 penalties to sneak a 2-1 win.

1996-7: A 1-0 win decided by a fine goal from Petr Kachouro, believe it or not

1998-9: A 2-1 win decided by another fine goal, this time the 40 yard howitzer from Tri Dellas, who had almost killed me attempting a similar effort at Watford earlier in the season

1999-2000: Warnock's first game, Brown's debut, and another superb winner, this time from Paul Devlin's mazy 70 yard dribble.

2001-2: Loanee Paul Furlong bags 2 on his debut and we just come out on top in a 7 goal thriller

2006-7: Calamity Claude and Paul Gerrard hand Pompey a point on a plate, as most of you probably remember.

Given Pompey's run and our own unbeaten run this season, the presence of a good number of ex-Blades in their team, the presence of the TV cameras, and the fact we will go 2nd if we win, there's only really one possible result tonight, isn't there?

 

[Samantha]

Oh great.... Now someone has realised that its pretty much certain that the inevitable will happen!

 

[TarquinDelouche]

I can't think of a single reason why we might win tonight.

 

[secretchief]

Does film footage exist of the Dellas goal? I seem to remember that it wasn't included on the season review video. If I remember rightly a video came out which took up from the beginning of Warnock's incumbency but clipped a few of the preceding games out.

 

[metalblade]

I think Steve Bruce would have been in charge when Dellas scored that goal, it was worth it to hear that little ginger twat with the squeaky voice whine and generally berate a young Tri Dellas as being slow and crap .................. wrong again Mr A Ball.

 

[blade too long]

I can't think of a single reason why we might win tonight.

thank you for your support

 

[2ndtenorblade]

2006-7: Calamity Claude and Paul Gerrard hand Pompey a point on a plate, as most of you probably remember.

Sadly I remember this game, it was my wifes last ever.

 

[Grecian2000]

Cheers Rev. Remember most of those vividly. Also highlighted yet another memory lapse because I thought we'd dome 'em for 5 both home and away in the 70/71 season but it was probably the season before.
Woody scored a hat trick at theirs and maybe at home too. Sure Dazzler will put my error right later.

 

[Darren]

On 5 November 1955, Portsmouth played us at the Lane and came away with a 3-1 win. Nothing odd about that result - we were relegated that year - but it has become significant over the last half a century.

Since then, Pompey have played 22 league games, 2 FA Cup games, and one league cup game at the Lane...and not won any of them. The 22 league game run is the joint longest current run of futility for an away team at the Lane - Bury's draw earlier this year also brought them up to 22 games, and they have 5 winless cup ties to add to it, but if Pompey don't win tonight they'll nudge back in front in terms of winless league games.

10 highlights from this run of non-success:

1970-1: United win 2-0 in both league and cup in our promotion season. This is one of only 4 cup wins for us in the decade.

1984-5: United produce an unexpectedly good second half performance and thrash Pompey 4-1. Glenn Cockerill gets the first with a fine long range lob over Alan Knight after a poor clearance

1985-6: a rare draw at the Lane for Portsmouth late in the season, but it's not enough for them as this result contributes to them just missing promotion. 37 year old Mick Channon plays sweeper for Pompey.

1986-7: this game has come up recently on this board: 4 sent off (all in the first half) for the first time since 1955, resulting in the farcical second half. Mind you, whilst the referee (Kelvin Morton) was certifiable and prone to controversy - he once awarded Palace 8 penalties in 3 games, for example - I remember thinking at the time that all the sendings off were fair enough.

1989-90: Pompey actually take the lead in this game, but Kevin Ball's usual kamikaze act against us sees him sent off, and sub Peter Duffield converts 2 penalties to sneak a 2-1 win.

1996-7: A 1-0 win decided by a fine goal from Petr Kachouro, believe it or not

1998-9: A 2-1 win decided by another fine goal, this time the 40 yard howitzer from Tri Dellas, who had almost killed me attempting a similar effort at Watford earlier in the season

1999-2000: Warnock's first game, Brown's debut, and another superb winner, this time from Paul Devlin's mazy 70 yard dribble.

2001-2: Loanee Paul Furlong bags 2 on his debut and we just come out on top in a 7 goal thriller

2006-7: Calamity Claude and Paul Gerrard hand Pompey a point on a plate, as most of you probably remember.

Given Pompey's run and our own unbeaten run this season, the presence of a good number of ex-Blades in their team, the presence of the TV cameras, and the fact we will go 2nd if we win, there's only really one possible result tonight, isn't there?

Great stuff, but I am afraid your memory of 70-71 is wonky. We lost 2-0 at Portsmouth in the 3rd round of the cup on 2/1/71 and then beat them 2-0 at the Lane in the League the following Saturday.

Our 4 70's FA Cup wins were as follows:

3/1/70 R3 H Everton 2-1
13/1/73 R3 A Watford 1-0
4/1/75 R3 H Bristolc City 2-0
24/11/79 R1 H Burscough 3-0

Between 1968 and 1989 we never got beyond the 4th round and only managed that on 5 occasions the 3 above and 1986 and 1987).

 

[Revolution]

Ah, yes, I got that the wrong way round. Before my time.

Grecian: I think we scored 5 at home in 1969-70 and 5 away in both 1969-70 and 1970-1.

 

[Darren]

Cheers Rev. Remember most of those vividly. Also highlighted yet another memory lapse because I thought we'd dome 'em for 5 both home and away in the 70/71 season but it was probably the season before.
Woody scored a hat trick at theirs and maybe at home too. Sure Dazzler will put my error right later.

In 69-70 we won 5-1 away (16/8/69 Currie 2, Woodward, Tudor, Youiden og) and 5-0 at home (7/10/69 Reece 3, Woodward Tudor). In 70-71, we won 5-1 away (30/9/70, Woodward 3, Reece, Dearden) and 2-0 at home.

So that was 3 consecutive 5 goal hauls v Portsmouth, which I doubt we have ever done against any othet team.

 

[Coily]

1984-5: United produce an unexpectedly good second half performance and thrash Pompey 4-1. Glenn Cockerill gets the first with a fine long range lob over Alan Knight after a poor clearance

One of my favourite games, certainly from the 80's. If I remember right, Pompey were near the top and on good form, but spent the first half kicking lumps out of us. This at least got the crowd onside and even though there were probably only 10,000 there it was a damn sight louder than crowds at the Lane now of double the size.

We tore them to bits in the second half kicking towards the Kop. Cockerill's lob was superb, and I'm sure Lazy Edwards also scored in the pissing down rain with Pompey getting their goal late on with the game won.

 

[Darren]

One of my favourite games, certainly from the 80's. If I remember right, Pompey were near the top and on good form, but spent the first half kicking lumps out of us. This at least got the crowd onside and even though there were probably only 10,000 there it was a damn sight louder than crowds at the Lane now of double the size.

We tore them to bits in the second half kicking towards the Kop. Cockerill's lob was superb, and I'm sure Lazy Edwards also scored in the pissing down rain with Pompey getting their goal late on with the game won.

Yes, it was the best game in what was a pretty awful season. It was on 29th December and Dennis Mortimer made his debut on loan from Villa. He made a big difference and we ran riot in the second half. As you say, Cokerill scored with a great lob, Edwards got one, then Morris with a pen and then Mel Eves with a free header from a corner. Portmsouth goal was comical in that it was a pen in the last minute (caused by Burrdige laying out a Portsmouth player) and led to ironical cheers from the United fans when it went in.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

I remember that game well. Pissing it down it was and Pompey were taking no prisoners, some proper tackles going in especially in the first half. Mortimer ran it a bit second half, good goals but the best bit was their penalty. I'm sure Budgie had decided it was time for payback on the first half tackles that had gone in and just completely flattened one of their players (can't remember who, but my hazy memory remembers them going off on a stretcher). It was so bad that in the modern game with no contact allowed, Budgie would probably have got a 20 game ban. Not even sure if he got booked

 

[Kenilworth]

22 Game winless streak at BDTBL for Pompey
Blades have gone 14 games unbeaten in the league (probably 54 if you count those that believe a PoF defeat on pens or ET is a draw)
They have ex Blades McLeod, Ertl, Harley, Howard and Williamson in the squad.
It's live on Sky.
A result will put us joint top on points - but second on goal difference.

What could possibly go wrong?

Oh dear! I think I am touching cloth

 

[Darren]

I remember that game well. Pissing it down it was and Pompey were taking no prisoners, some proper tackles going in especially in the first half. Mortimer ran it a bit second half, good goals but the best bit was their penalty. I'm sure Budgie had decided it was time for payback on the first half tackles that had gone in and just completely flattened one of their players (can't remember who, but my hazy memory remembers them going off on a stretcher). It was so bad that in the modern game with no contact allowed, Budgie would probably have got a 20 game ban. Not even sure if he got booked

Was it Kevin Ball?

I remember the stretcher now you mention it....

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

Was it Kevin Ball?

I remember the stretcher now you mention it....

Wouldn't be surprised if it was Ball. He was probably responsible for most of those first half 'tackles'

 

[metalblade]

22 Game winless streak at BDTBL for Pompey
Blades have gone 14 games unbeaten in the league (probably 54 if you count those that believe a PoF defeat on pens or ET is a draw)
They have ex Blades McLeod, Ertl, Harley, Howard and Williamson in the squad.
It's live on Sky.
A result will put us joint top on points - but second on goal difference.

What could possibly go wrong?

Oh dear! I think I am touching cloth

Strange how 4 of the ex Blades mentioned were generally deemed not good enough by the fans at Bramall lane yet seem to be doing ok at Pompey and are a big threat to our "unbeaten" tag.

 

[Darren]

Wouldn't be surprised if it was Ball. He was probably responsible for most of those first half 'tackles'

Indeed. Did you go to the next game against Birmingham which was equally entertaining? Another one goalless at half time, we went two nil up just after half time through Heffernan and Edwards and then had the Bob Atkins horrow show. He was at left back and from then on, the Birmingham right winger (Howard Gayle?) gace him an awful time - it was like a grown man against an 11 year old. Brimingham quickly went 4-2 up (I think Bob chipped in with an og), before we rallied and got one back with a Morris pen. We weere then very unlucky not to equalise.

Atkins never played for United again.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

Indeed. Did you go to the next game against Birmingham which was equally entertaining? Another one goalless at half time, we went two nil up just after half time through Heffernan and Edwards and then had the Bob Atkins horrow show. He was at left back and from then on, the Birmingham right winger (Howard Gayle?) gace him an awful time - it was like a grown man against an 11 year old. Brimingham quickly went 4-2 up (I think Bob chipped in with an og), before we rallied and got one back with a Morris pen. We weere then very unlucky not to equalise.

Atkins never played for United again.

I'm pretty certain it was Howard Gayle that gave Atkins a proper roasting. That must've been the only goal Tom Heffernan scored for us. Can't remember why Atkins would've been playing left-back as he wasn't a full-back too slow, in fact apart from a wonder strike at Rovrum, he wasn't much of anything! I seem to remember we hit the bar or post right on full-time.

 

[metalblade]

Bob Atkins lol I'll always remember his last minute winner at Millmoor the one and only time he ever showed a bit of skill.
ps didn't we have another Atkins playing for us around that time ???
no thinking of Kevin Arnott

 

[Darren]

I'm pretty certain it was Howard Gayle that gave Atkins a proper roasting. That must've been the only goal Tom Heffernan scored for us. Can't remember why Atkins would've been playing left-back as he wasn't a full-back too slow, in fact apart from a wonder strike at Rovrum, he wasn't much of anything! I seem to remember we hit the bar or post right on full-time.

Heffernan actually managed 5 goals for us:

15/10/83 Bournemouth H
3/3/84 Orient H
1/9/84 Cardiff H
1/1/85 Birmingham H
30/3/85 Palace A

Atkins started off in 81-82 as a centre forward or centre back in the reserves and first came to prominence as he got a hat trick at Hillsborough for the reserves. Strangely, when he made the first teamin 82-83 it was as a right back and we switched him up front in 83-84 when we were a bit low on strikers. To be fair he didn't do too bad as a lower division lumpen target man and, as you say, got that wonder goal at Rotherham. Atkins was back in defence in 84-85 and, in one of Porterfield's less inspired moves, he thought he could do job at right or left back.

Someone once said Atkins was the classic utility man - crap everywhere.

 

[sitwell]

I think Steve Bruce would have been in charge when Dellas scored that goal, it was worth it to hear that little ginger twat with the squeaky voice whine and generally berate a young Tri Dellas as being slow and crap .................. wrong again Mr A Ball.

At that time Alan Ball was my most hated man in football ,but I met him before he died and he was the friendliest most interesting and humble person I have met. It was at a barbecue at Steve Claridges house 'Wembley Heights' in Gosport ,Claridge was absolute cock.

 

[metalblade]

At that time Alan Ball was my most hated man in football ,but I met him before he died and he was the friendliest most interesting and humble person I have met. It was at a barbecue at Steve Claridges house 'Wembley Heights' in Gosport ,Claridge was absolute cock.

Since the incident of Currie giving him some back and sitting on the ball he never had a good word to say on Sheffield Utd and the feelings were mutual not many united fans had anything good to say about him.

 

[sitwell]

Since the incident of Currie giving him some back and sitting on the ball he never had a good word to say on Sheffield Utd and the feelings were mutual not many united fans had anything good to say about him.

Thats why I hated him ,I mentioned that to him but he said fans of most clubs hated him for one reason or another. At first I was in awe of a player who had actually won the world cup ,but he was so down to earth and just wanted to talk football all afternoon.

 

[davidpinder]

Its got a draw written all over it IMO i, going for 2-2, however teams who travel nearly 250 miles (and i am guessing on a coach as pompey are skint aren't they????????) for a night match should be at a disadvantage, we'll see.

 

[Trigger Blade]

Thats why I hated him ,I mentioned that to him but he said fans of most clubs hated him for one reason or another. At first I was in awe of a player who had actually won the world cup ,but he was so down to earth and just wanted to talk football all afternoon.

What? with you sitters? How did he make it last that long, he must have been doing all the talking?

 

[Darren]

Its got a draw written all over it IMO i, going for 2-2, however teams who travel nearly 250 miles (and i am guessing on a coach as pompey are skint aren't they????????) for a night match should be at a disadvantage, we'll see.

I think there is something in that. The teams from the far south and south west hardly ever win at the Lane.

If we take Plymouth, Exeter, Torquay, Bristol City, Bristol Rovers, Yeovil, Swindon, Bournemouth, Portsmouth and Southampton, that lot have only had 6 wins in (I think) 103 games league and cup games going back to 1960.

Swindon 2-1 9/2/70
Bristol R 3-2 18/12/76
Bournemouth 1-0 15/8/87
Southampton 2-0 24/8/91
Southampton 2-1 29/9/07
Plymouth 1-0 24/11/07

 

[Kenilworth]

Its got a draw written all over it IMO i, going for 2-2, however teams who travel nearly 250 miles (and i am guessing on a coach as pompey are skint aren't they????????) for a night match should be at a disadvantage, we'll see.

They got seats on the Megabus - so I heard

 

[davidpinder]

I think there is something in that. The teams from the far south and south west hardly ever win at the Lane.

If we take Plymouth, Exeter, Torquay, Bristol City, Bristol Rovers, Yeovil, Swindon, Bournemouth, Portsmouth and Southampton, that lot have only had 6 wins in (I think) 103 games league and cup games going back to 1960.

Swindon 2-1 9/2/70
Bristol R 3-2 18/12/76
Bournemouth 1-0 15/8/87
Southampton 2-0 24/8/91
Southampton 2-1 29/9/07
Plymouth 1-0 24/11/07

That is not a surprise because if players sit on a coach for 5-6 hours, arrive at the ground 2 hours before kick off then play 90 mins they can't surely be 100%. Now i famously remember a certain other side in sheffield travelling down to reading midweek and getting stuck in traffic, they were on the bus about 6 hours and got hammered about 6-0 i think.