Paul Merson and Tim Sherwood instantly react as Portsmouth win promotion to the Championship
Tim Sherwood has backed Portsmouth to win promotion to the Premier League next season off the back of a sensational season in League One.
Pompey tied up the third-tier title in dramatic fashion on Tuesday night (16 April) as they came from behind to win 3-2 against Barnsley at Fratton Park.
Former Portsmouth stars Sherwood and Paul Merson were both on hand on Sky Sports News to react live to John Mousinho’s side winning promotion to the Championship and both were absolutely over the moon for the south coast club.
“They can go back-to-back,” said Sherwood on Sky Sports News (16 April, 09:48pm). “They’ve got the fanbase to do that.
“If they get some finances, get some new players and [ride the] crest of the wave, they can do what Ipswich did last year.
“That fanbase is incredible, isn’t it, Merse?”
Merson replied: “The noise they make is unbelievable. I’m so pleased for the fans.
“What the manager and the players have done tonight… It gave me goosebumps after seeing them all running on the pitch. I remember it like it was yesterday.”
Portsmouth win promotion to the Championship with two games to spare
Wow.
What a night. What a team. What a manager.
Mousinho has done wonders at Fratton Park.
Portsmouth fans will be the first to admit that the former Oxford United was a left-field hire by the Blues but hasn’t he done well?
Pompey have the opportunity to break their own points tally record of 98 by winning their final games against Wigan and Lincoln City, meaning they could end the season as champions, promotion-winners and centurions.
Who would bet against it at this stage with Mousinho’s men losing just four times all season?
We’ve got to say, we thought we might have to wait until the weekend to see the scenes we witnessed on Tuesday night when Barnsley took the lead and Bolton pulled it back to 2-2 in their game against Shrewsbury.
But we’re glad it’s over and done with. It’ll be party time at Fratton Park when the trophy is lifted on Saturday after playing Wigan.
In other Portsmouth news, Jeff Stelling has shared a “bizarre” statistic regarding a Pompey player.
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