Once again our fatal weakness of failing to finish off inferior opposition nearly came back to bite us as we switched off in the second half after completely dominating the first half. But job done and on to the next round, another promising performance from young Tanganga.
So much sloppy shit that a better team would have punished us for. Lamela and Lo Celso should play more. Dier should play less.
yeah, I guess I really didn't think that through. that City game was wrenching. by the time they scored their second, you knew what was coming. the very essence of 'spursy'. and the Pompey semi. the misery-meter was through the roof that day. thanks, jumhed.
And then in the same week we went out and beat Arsenal and Chelsea back-to-back in the league before clinching a CL spot by beating Man City away.
yup! the thing that really pushed me over the edge during the Pompey loss was when Palacios received a yellow in extra time that meant he'd be suspended for both of those (huge) upcoming matches. at that, I thought we'd both pissed away the Cup and our chances in the League. that we beat both of them made my angers/fears superfluous … but that didn't help me on the afternoon. I was one miserable bastard that day.
\We also had a perfectly good equalizer by Crouchie in extra-time ruled by that twat referee Alan Wiley.
Looking back at that season, we had a nasty run-in in the race for 4th: Arsenal (H), Chelsea (H), Manchester United (A), Bolton (H), Manchester City (A), Burnley (A).