Portsmouth: Paul Merson sends ruthless offer to two young Southampton fans on Sky Sports
By Dan Godfrey
Paul Merson has shown there remains a fond connection with his former club Portsmouth after delivering a ruthless message to two young supporters attending their first Southampton match on Friday (29 March).
Russell Martin’s Saints failed to capitalise on a chance to close the gap on the Championship’s top two places after conceding a last-gasp goal to Middlesbrough at St. Mary’s in a 1-1 draw.
Portsmouth, meanwhile, were 3-1 victors at Wycombe Wanderers to close in on promotion to the second tier and Merson did not miss the chance to display where his South Coast loyalties lie.
“There were a couple of little kids today, at their first ever [Southampton] game. Young kids,”
began the ex-Pompey man on Sky Sports Soccer Special (29 March).
“There is still time for you to go and support Portsmouth if you want. Come on, Pompey.”
Host Julian Warren laughed as he responded: “Had to get that one in, didn’t you?”
In a short but memorable stint at Fratton Park, Merson spent a solitary season with the club under Harry Redknapp, firing 12 goals to help win promotion to the Premier League in the 2002/03 campaign.
Paul Merson sticks boot into Southampton with Portsmouth jibe
As Southampton were held to their 1-1 draw by Boro, Portsmouth made another major stride
towards automatic promotion from League One with a commanding 3-1 victory at Wycombe
Wanderers.
John Mousinho’s men require just eight further points to seal their fate – potentially setting up a
South Coast derby in the league for the first time since 2011/12.
With the doubters naturally loud in their numbers following Mousinho’s appointment into his
maiden managerial job in January 2023, the Blues’ head coach has produced a perfect blend of
style and substance in his Pompey team, which places them on the verge of a second-tier return
after 12 long years.
Hurdles do, however, remain. Second-placed Derby County are next to visit Fratton Park on Tuesday (2 April), with a trip to Bolton Wanderers in third approaching on April 13.
But at present, it is hard to look beyond a Portsmouth outfit full of confidence and momentum,
illustrated by their 13-match unbeaten run at the league season’s business end.
In other Portsmouth news, defender Sean Raggett gives the latest on his contract situation.
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