Football Season Review

Cash-strapped Portsmouth were forced to accept their League One fate after a long but ultimately luckless attempt at avoiding the drop. Rookie boss Michael Appleton was forced to deal with administration and a points deduction which flung the Fratton Park club into a relegation battle. A wafer-thin squad meant Pompey were always fighting a losing war, with no funds to add to the ranks. Appleton was fortunate to have a sprinkling of talented youngsters at his disposal, with defenders Jason Pearce and Joel Ward ensuring what the squad lacked in depth it did not lack in endeavour and fighting spirit. Goals were hard to come by in the final third with the likes of Nwankwo Kanu, Dave Kitson and Benjani all struggling with injuries throughout the course of the season. At the turn of the New Year it was obvious the club needed to reduce the wage bill to ensure its mere existence and the departure of flair players such as Erik Huseklepp and Liam Lawrence left the Blues bereft of any genuine creativity. Their Fratton Park home remained a fortress however, with 10 league wins to their name on home soil. But just three wins on the road proved their undoing and a season in the third tier for the first time in 29 years.

Player of the Season: Jason Pearce