Julian Warren reacts to scenes at Fratton Park as Portsmouth win League One title with win v Barnsley
Julian Warren was blown away by the scenes at Fratton Park as Portsmouth clinched the League One title and automatic promotion to the Championship with a 3-2 victory over Barnsley.
The two sides traded blows early on, with Devante Cole and Kusini Yengi both scoring inside the opening nine minutes before Barnsley threatened to spoil the part by going ahead once more in 59th minute through John McAtee.
However, top scorer Colby Bishop came off the bench to convert a penalty and equalise before defender Conor Shaughnessy scored a dramatic, late, title-clinching winner.
Speaking on Sky Sports News [9:45pm, 16 April], Warren said: “These are the scenes at Fratton Park – Portsmouth are back in the Championship. They’ve beaten Barnsley by three goals to two – only needed a point on the night to guarantee it, but by winning 3-2, they go up as champions.
“What a night for those Portsmouth fans. They have had some tough times over the years, but tonight they can celebrate.
“John Mousinho, what a masterstroke to appoint him – he, admittedly, was a left-field appointment by the club, when they gave him his first job as a manager [but] he has taken to it like a duck to water and he leads Portsmouth to the second tier for the first time in 12 years.
“They’re 17 games unbeaten now – who can say this side do not deserve their promotion? And they are the champions as well.
“Colby Bishop among their scorers, their top-scorer, off the bench – he’s had his best-ever goalscoring season, and these Portsmouth fans have had [the] best season they’ve had for many a year. [It’s] just the second promotion for the club since the days of Merson and Sherwood.
“Portsmouth three, Barnsley two – Pompey up as League One champions.”
Portsmouth deservedly win League One
Portsmouth are deserved winners of League One after a superb season under novice manager John Mousinho.
Pompey have lost just four games all season, winning 27 times and drawing 13, demonstrating the never-say-die attitude so often associated with champions.
Their defensive record has been excellent, too, conceding just 39 times in 44 games – a record only Derby County can better, with 36.
That solid rearguard has been the foundation for their promotion-winning campaign, with four teams – Peterborough United, Bolton Wanderers, Barnsley and Oxford United – scoring more goals than the 75 notched by Pompey.
That tally is by no means unimpressive, though, and Colby Bishop’s 21 league strikes have certainly played an important part in helping Portsmouth win the title – only Charlton Athletic’s Alfie May has netted more times so far, with 23 goals to his name.
Portsmouth have been outstanding in all departments this season and can now look forward to their long-awaited return to the Championship.
In other Portsmouth news, Jeff Stelling has shared a “bizarre” statistic regarding a Pompey player.
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