Duncan Barkes

And we all went bonkers.

and then the winning goal went in, and then we just had to hold on.

And I thought we held on as consummately as I've ever seen, well, as I've seen us for a long time.

There wasn't a great deal of anxiety on the pitch at all, and there wasn't a great deal of anxiety amongst the crowd.

I think it was seen by all concerned, including the Blackburn players and supporters, that 2-1 to us was a fair score.

I haven't seen the interview with Ismail,

their beleaguered manager, but I'm suspecting that he will say that they could have played better.

Pompey, they'll say well-organised.

They always say that when we're the better team.

Oh, Pompey were well-organised.

That's the closest they can come to saying they were good or just simply they were better than us.

And we were better than them on the day.

And it was the best birthday present I've had for Pompey.

Well, since I was 14, as I said.

So thank you for that, Pompey.

And I reiterate that I hope that's not my combined Christmas and birthday present.

And as you can probably hear from the state of my voice, a celebration took place after the game at our gaff.

in honour of the result, as well as my birthday.

And I'm a little bit the worse for wear.

I hope it doesn't sound frayed at the edges, but I'm off for a hair of the dog, wouldn't you?