Neil Allen's full-time verdict on Portsmouth's 1-1 draw with Hull

The News, Portsmouth

Pompey 1 Hull 1: Neil Allen's full-time verdict

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00:00Greetings from Fratton Park where it's Pompey 1, Hall 1, season over. I've just actually pan over here.

00:09Can you see that? There's a wonderful sight of various children of the Pompey players having a kick about on the Fratton Park pitch now the season's ended.

00:27It's lovely. A lot of the players have gone to the Victory Lounge after the game and their families are here as well.

00:33So they're unwinding having a drink in the Victory Lounge. Thoroughly deserved because it's been a long, exhausting season.

00:43At times, we thought they were clearly in danger of going down. I know at times some people thought Pompey were going down,

00:50but they never gave up and they actually finished in 16th place, which I think nobody could have.

00:57Obviously, some people bizarrely thought Pompey were going to challenge for the playoffs,

01:01but the vast majority of realistic people thought it was going to be a battle against relegation,

01:06considering Pompey just got promoted, one of the lowest budgets in the league naturally.

01:12But they've done exceptionally well Pompey and finished the season five games unbeaten as well.

01:18And Jack Colburn says, shocking. What's shocking? What's shocking, Jake? Sorry.

01:25But yeah, so it's been an exhausting season.

01:29Shattered the players after as well.

01:31I think it was just summed up really today by Christian Sadie's goal,

01:36because not a lot was riding on the game, was it?

01:39Certainly was for Hull, but not for Pompey.

01:42And it was a great moment for Christian Sadie.

01:44He'd not scored since August at Middlesbrough.

01:48So you're talking more than eight months without a goal.

01:51And it was a lovely moment to see him celebrate, wasn't it?

01:54It really was.

01:55I want to try to get the kids in the background there to see the football there.

02:00But it was a lovely moment for Christian Sadie as well.

02:04And you can see how it meant to him.

02:07And the fans like, you know, I love Christian Sadie.

02:10The power he's got, the drive he's got.

02:13The first thing he did when he came onto the pitch was he did like a roulette

02:16and spun around and got a big cheer from the fans as well.

02:20And he was man of the match. It was his game.

02:22And it was a fantastic right-footed finish.

02:25Powerful from the right-hand side.

02:28I must admit, I thought he'd gone to the side netting.

02:31But it was a fantastic finish.

02:33Mylon Pack put the ball through.

02:35Matt Ritchie with a dummy.

02:36Sadie had read it, cleverly had read it.

02:38And scored the goal.

02:39And it was brilliant right from the fratting end.

02:42He was talking about afterwards.

02:43It reminded him of the Oxford occasion last season when Oxford came here

02:46and he came on a sub and he stormed down the middle and scored as well.

02:50It was a wonderful occasion that.

02:52And it's just not a lot riding on the game for Pompey.

02:56But I just felt he's a lovely lad Christian with Sadie.

03:00He's clearly popular with the supporters.

03:02And it was just his day.

03:03And I'm delighted for that because he deserves it.

03:06He's not played much this season.

03:08He's certainly not played much in the second half of the season since the signings arrived in January.

03:13But it was his moment.

03:14I'm delighted for that.

03:15It was just a nice occasion for him.

03:17Plenty of lovely moments actually.

03:19I think Freddie Potts when he was subbed as well.

03:21Fantastic reception of the fans.

03:23We know what a hit he's been.

03:26Really exceptional player really, isn't he?

03:29Freddie Potts.

03:30And Abu Kamara when he was substituted by Hull.

03:33Tremendous reception.

03:34And after the game he came across to the front end and applauded the fans as well.

03:39I know Jordan, my colleague, spoke to him afterwards as well.

03:42So the respect there and the love there was fantastic to see, wasn't it really?

03:47Deservedly got a good reception.

03:49And show what a classy player he is to give it back as well on a big day for Hull.

03:54So there's plenty of lovely little subplots today.

03:57The game, it doesn't really matter the game.

04:00It wasn't great, was it?

04:01No other side deserved to win.

04:02A draw was a fair result.

04:04But it did matter, wasn't it really?

04:07Just about these little subplots.

04:09Marlon Pack came off a cramp.

04:11He got a lovely reception.

04:12One of our own.

04:13I thought it was really nice as well to see him hug Matt Richie and he gave him the Captain Armman as well.

04:19These two lads who came through the ranks.

04:21Marlon's a year above Marlon.

04:24Marlon's a year below Matt actually.

04:26And, you know, they played these games.

04:28And Matt was saying afterwards, he remembers playing the Carnu charity games here and things like that as they were teenage kids.

04:34And then they're here at the end of the season.

04:36And the game, well, Pompey stayed up in the Championship and that was a nice moment as well.

04:41So, yeah, plenty to enjoy about today, apart from maybe the performance.

04:45But it doesn't really matter, doesn't it?

04:47And now you've just got everyone winding down.

04:49You see the players on my shoulder.

04:51The kids enjoying themselves on the pitch as well there.

04:53So, it's just lovely to see.

04:56So, sorry there's not much in-depth analysis about the game, but there's not a lot to talk about, I think.

05:01It's just been nice to have the feet up for the final two games, isn't it, really?

05:07Nothing on it.

05:08You don't have to worry about teams below.

05:10And good on Hulp.

05:12Their fans were very good today.

05:14Very vocal.

05:15Turned up in fancy dress.

05:17And you can see, obviously, their celebrations at the end.

05:19Good on them, really.

05:20To come to Fratton Park.

05:23At one point, they thought they might need the winters to stay up.

05:26To come to Fratton Park.

05:27And we know how strong Pompey have been at Fratton Park, haven't we?

05:30Since the last six months.

05:33And they got a point and it keeps them up.

05:35Keeps them up on goal difference.

05:37So, yeah.

05:38So, everyone's happy from today.

05:39Obviously, apart from Luton.

05:42Incidentally, not even Pompey got relegated from the Premier League and the Championship in festive seasons.

05:48Not even Pompey did that.

05:49So, well done, Luton.

05:51But, yeah.

05:52So, it's been a long old season.

05:54Time to reflect over the next few weeks.

05:57But, yeah.

05:59Plenty to enjoy about moments of it as well.

06:01And Josh Murphy, by the way.

06:02I mentioned this at the half-time.

06:03Josh Murphy.

06:04Loads of awards.

06:05He's a really nice lad, Josh Murphy.

06:07Really nice lad.

06:08And he was telling...

06:10He was so choked that people were voting to play a year.

06:13He's never won to play a year before.

06:15So, it really meant a lot to him.

06:17He couldn't believe it.

06:18Absolutely couldn't believe it before kick-off.

06:20Unfortunately, Tannoy forgot to announce some of the awards he won.

06:24He won.

06:25But, yeah.

06:26And what a season he had as well.

06:28He did have a great game today, but it doesn't matter.

06:30It was...

06:31Yeah.

06:3212 trophies he won overall.

06:33So, fair play to him.

06:34So, that's it.

06:35That's the season finished.

06:36Done and dusted.

06:39Plenty to enjoy along the way.

06:40Plenty to get frustrated about and worry about along the way as well.

06:43Particularly away from home.

06:45But Fratton Park's been an exception, hasn't it?

06:48So, yeah.

06:50What a season it's been.

06:52Obviously, to evolve and build, can't settle for that next year.

06:55Need to improve.

06:56But 16th place in the first season back in the Championship, I think, is excellent.

07:00So, well done, Pompey.

07:03And here's to another season of the Championship.

07:05Thank you very much.

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