So Portsmouth's season ....

[honestbroker1]

They have one (league) match of the season remaining, at home to run-away champions of the league, Northampton Town.

Under other circumstances, that might be an interesting match, but Northampton are certain of promotion (crowned as champions) while Pompey, certain of a play-off place, but with no hope of automatic promotion, will be conserving their energies for vial matches to follow at the end of May that will determine whether they win promotion to the next league up, or whether they don't.

The play-off is a mini 'league' of matches between the four teams outside the top two that determines which (I think, two) of them) will make it to the next tier.

Pompey's new manager, Paul Cook, came to the club with a high reputation and equally high expectations of what he would achieve, here. But I think he will look back on the season with disappointment and some trepidation.

The high-point of the season (without doubt) was a sterling performance in the FA cup against local rivals and newly-promoted Championship team (the highest league in English domestic football) Bournemouth, where Pompey gave a creditable display, but lost 2-1 (though Pompey's goal, by all accounts, was a stunner).

Otherwise, a team burning with ambition, and with one of the highest playing-budgets in the (present) league, are likely to turn on Paul Cook if they have to endure another season of league two drudgery in 2016-17.

[honestbroker1]

Northampton won 2-1.

Pompey goal a stunner (apparently).

Northampton crowned champions and finished their season on a winning note.

But Pompey (down to 10 men in the second half) seemed, nevertheless, to have played much better in that half than the first.

So Pompey are still in the play-offs.

We'll see ....

[honestbroker1]

Play-off finally (I think) today.

That is, second-leg of a play-off match today.

The first match (at Pompey's ground) was a 2-2 draw. A key Plymouth player was caught on camera head-butting a Pompey player, but escaped sanction in the match and will not be suspended for the second-leg match today.

Further investigations apparently revealed that he had been extensively provoked during the course of the match played, and had finally snapped in the incident caught on camera.

So he is available for today's match.

We'll see ...

[honestbroker1]

Pompey lost 1-0; 3-2 over the two legs.

Another season in the bottom tier next season ....