April 10-16: Two Wins And Pompey Go Top After The Win At Old Trafford
Monday 10: Len Phillips has a thigh injury and will miss Pompey's match at Fulham this afternoon. With Duggie Reid still troubled by a swollen ankle, Lindy Delapenha has been recalled to the Blues side.
Reg Flewin's eye injury has not yet healed properly, and Bill Spence will continue to deputise for him. Harry Ferrier will again captain Pompey this afternoon.
The full Pompey side to play at Fulham this afternoon is: Butler, Hindmarsh, Ferrier, Scoular, Spence, Dickinson, Harris, Delapenha, Clarke, Pickett, Froggatt.
Fratton Park will stage its third match in four days when Pompey Reserves entertain Ipswich Town Reserves this afternoon (3pm).
This is how the top of the First Division looks before Pompey's important match at Fulham this afternoon (3.15pm):
1. Sunderland P37 Pts48
2. Man Utd P38 Pts47
3. Liverpool P38 Pts47
4. Blackpool P36 Pts46
5. POMPEY P37 Pts45
6. Wolves P36 Pts44
The final whistle has sounded at Craven Cottage and Pompey have recovered from Saturday's disappointment to gather both points from their meeting with Fulham.
Result: Fulham 0 - 1 Pompey Pompey goalscorer: Ike Clarke. Attendance: 43,716
A goal from Ike Clarke in the 13th minute gave Pompey a 1-0 win and two vital points from their match at Fulham this afternoon. With all of their close rivals dropping points the Blues are now just one point off the top of the First Division table.
Harry Ferrier missed a penalty for Pompey early on, but then Clarke gave them the lead and for a while Pompey looked like running riot.
Fulham came right back at Pompey in the second half and with a small portion of luck they may have saved the match, but it was not their lucky day and they had to take their third defeat of the Easter weekend.
At the final whistle the thousands of Pompey supporters who swelled the crowd at Craven Cottage to 43,716 roared their approval.
Match Summary: Fulham 0, Portsmouth 1
Portsmouth Reserves 0, Ipswich Town 0
Friday 14: Jimmy Dickinson will be missing from Pompey's team for their crucial match against fellow title challengers Manchester United at Old Trafford tomorrow afternoon. The influential left-half will be at Hampden Park playing for England against Scotland
Bill Thompson has been called up to deputise for Dickinson. Reg Flewin will again be an absentee. Hs injured eye has required an operation. Bill Spence continues to cover for him at centre-half.
Pompey make two changes to their forward line for tomorrow's match. Duggie Reid and Len Phillips replace Lindy Delapenha and Reg Pickett.
The full Pompey line-up for the big show-down at Old Trafford will therefore be: Butler, Hindmarsh, Ferrier, Scoular, Spence, Thompson, Harris, Reid, Clarke, Phillips, Froggatt.
Updates on Pompey's progress in the match at Old Trafford will be relayed to the crowd every 15 minutes at Pompey Reserves' match against Norwich City Reserves at Fratton Park tomorrow (3pm).
Saturday 15: The final whistle has sounded at Old Trafford. It wasn't pretty but it's magnificent win for Pompey, and a huge step towards retaining the Championship
Result: Manchester United 0 - 2 Pompey Scorers: Duggie Reid, Jack Froggatt Attendance: 44,908
Pompey sit at the top of the First Division tonight. Two goals in the last six minutes of their match at Old Trafford saw them grab both points, and favourable results elsewhere mean they now look down on all others for the first time this season
In a match of disappointing quality, United 'keeper Crompton saved at the feet of Peter Harris, and Rowley missed a good chance for Matt Busby's side, but otherwise there were few incidents to thrill the big crowd.
The game exploded into life in the 84th minute. Ike Clarke flicked-on Jack Froggatt's cross and Duggie Reid was on hand to drill the ball home and give Pompey the lead.
United hit back fiercely, but Peter Harris settled the issue with a minute to go. Jimmy Scoular won a vital tackle and his cross found Jack Froggatt's head. The outside left made no mistake from 12 yards.
So now Pompey's season is in their own hands. They face another huge fixture next week - Liverpool at Fratton Park - and then a visit to Arsenal. Aston Villa will be the visitors on the last day of the season.
Match Summary: Manchester United 0, Portsmouth 2
Portsmouth Reserves 0, Norwich City Reserves 2
"VITAL POINTS FOR POMPEY" - how Ranger saw the big match at Old Trafford this afternoon. (From tonight's Football Mail)
Sunday 16: Pompey’s win at Old Trafford yesterday took them to the top of the First Division for the first time this season, but there is a tight finish ahead - from Sunday's papers.
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