Portsmouth fans rage at ‘sickening’, ‘awful’ Cohen Bramall incident v Coventry
Portsmouth have lost away from home again – and this time it has come in the most agonising circumstances yet.
Pompey defended for their lives against Coventry City at the CBS Arena (9 April) and were seconds from securing a goalless draw, but for Jamie Paterson’s last-gasp volley to break royal blue hearts.
The dismal away record of the Blues has now become 12 in their last 13, with relegation from the Championship now a major threat despite remaining 17th in the league.
Cohen Bramall moment slammed by despairing Portsmouth fans
Paterson’s volley came with barely a second for Portsmouth to respond, having consistently lost via fine margins away from home in the second half of this season.
Pompey’s resolute door finally came crashing down which could prove pivotal in a survival battle their away form has single-handedly dragged them back into.
Right before Paterson’s goal, however, came a moment which made matters all the tougher to take.
Portsmouth had not registered even a mere attempt in the second half, yet could have nicked it when a usually-impressive Bramall sprinted clear down the left and received the ball, with Colby Bishop square to his right.
Instead of squaring for Bishop, or take it to the corner and wind down the final minute with the score goalless, Bramall elected to shoot and spooned his effort off target. From the very next attack, Coventry hit the knockout blow.
Pompey fans have taken to X to air their frustration at Bramall for the decision, which was shown on Sky Sports (9 April).
Once again the decision making was poor. Bramall had the chance to take the ball to the corner and run the clock down. Bishop could have done the same vs Watford (A), but as a team we’ve not learned.
— Stuart Chambers (@chambers552325) April 9, 2025
Derby contest on Saturday could be make-or-break
Portsmouth have lost enough lives now, and have to take their massive chance against Derby County on Saturday – one of their key survival rivals (12 April).
The Rams came up to the Championship with Pompey last season, and along with several other teams are scrapping to avoid falling through the trap door.
| POS | Championship table 2024-25 | PLD | PTS | GD |
| 17 | PORTSMOUTH | 41 | 45 | -16 |
| 18 | Oxford | 41 | 45 | -18 |
| 19 | Hull | 41 | 44 | -9 |
| 20 | Stoke | 41 | 44 | -12 |
| 21 | Derby | 41 | 42 | -10 |
| 22 | Cardiff | 41 | 42 | -20 |
| 23 | Luton | 41 | 40 | -25 |
| 24 | Plymouth | 41 | 37 | -39 |
It’s massively all to play for and if the Blues are going to completely rely on their home form, they have to continue to deliver and get the task done this weekend.
The atmosphere will be electric, the fate of Portsmouth and numerous other clubs is on a knife-edge.