Darke reacts to ‘brave’ Eisner claim, Portsmouth fans will make up their own minds
Portsmouth approach the final eight games of the Championship season attempting to bat off any increased survival pressure.
The international break probably came at the right time for a Pompey side who need a breath of fresh air instilled into Fratton Park, off the back of two frustrating defeats of fine margins.
Coinciding with teams below them starting to pick up momentum, the break was actually a blessing – Portsmouth went from 10 points clear of the relegation places to just four, and fans are back on amber alert.
Darke reveals view on Eisner speech
Michael Eisner made a speech alongside son Eric back in November, detailing John Mousinho and his Portsmouth side would not be relegated back to League One after a solitary season.
While it may be a fair statement to make now with the Blues still 17th in the table, Mousinho‘s men were rooted inside the drop zone at the time.
They had not yet struck their regular run of home form, and were even worse on the road then than they are now.
TV commentator Ian Darke, speaking exclusively to Pompey News, has no issue with the timing of Eisner’s “upbeat” rallying cry nearly five months ago, albeit admitting his comments were “brave”.
“I don’t have a problem with the owner sounding out an upbeat note,” Darke said.
“I’m not sure of the relevance really of Michael Eisner saying that. Fans can watch and make their own opinions. It was a brave thing to say and the fans will hope he’s right.”
Portsmouth must take chance against Blackburn at Fratton Park
In among the eight games are four winnable home clashes, starting with out-of-form Blackburn Rovers at Fratton on Saturday (29 March).
Portsmouth will be heavy favourites against a Rovers side who have taken just one point from their last five, applying huge pressure on boss Valerien Ismael.
Blackburn are however still in the chase for the top six, a battle which could become a step too far if they lose even further ground on the South Coast this weekend.
| Portsmouth – last four home results | Date |
| Portsmouth 1-2 Plymouth | 12 March |
| Portsmouth 1-0 Leeds | 9 March |
| Portsmouth 2-1 QPR | 22 February |
| Portsmouth 2-1 Cardiff | 12 February |
Pompey must not approach the game how they did against Plymouth Argyle, rather the way they have flown from the blocks against the likes of Stoke, Cardiff and Swansea.
Supporters will not have forgotten the 3-0 defeat at Ewood Park back in January, either, with some diabolical refereeing calls on the day helping gloss a scoreline Blackburn considered themselves very fortunate to deserve.