Hart on Pompey win at Carlisle

Pompey, in typical fashion, gave us a scare for a while last night but eventually got through to round 4 of the league cup after a 3-1 win at Carlisle - something that Paul Hart, as he told The News, found 'very pleasing'.

Having barely arrived in the ground, picked out a spot at the back of the stand - having been told to 'sit' anywhere - to see us go 1-0 down after a couple of minutes my heart sank! But, thankfully, we came back to win and Hart was obviously happy: 'it was a very difficult game, so to win 3-1 is very pleasing.

'We had players come in who haven't been playing week-in, week-out - but they have come in and got a result for us.

'I thought their attitude was excellent.

'Considering some of them haven't played for a long while I have to be very pleased.'

To be honest I thought that we made hard work of this, and in my thinking at times you would not have known who the premier league side was if you did not already know...but, the main thing is we won!

We showed some real moments of quality at times and to be fair to the strikers all of them looked lively. There were some well taken goals and some very swift counter attacking moves, which were promising. Defensively we were 'rocky' to say the least and, as previously said this week, we desperately need other fullbacks to be fit!

At the end of the day though a win, and 3 goals, is the most important thing - wins and goals are what we need. Wins, against any level of opposition help build confidence and hopefully this, coupled with a few decent enough - to be fair - showing in the last couple of league games despite defeats will all help, at least I hope it will! Of course we cannot get carried away, and hopefully most of us will not, but lets hope this gives us a welcome boost ahead of Everton on Saturday...

I heard a new chant in the toilets after the game, so 'if' we get a decent draw and 'if' we then make it into the last 8 I think the 'when Mok goes up to lift the carling cup we'll be there, we'll be there' could catch on?

I was told that 450-odd tickets were sold, although apparently The Quay said it was closer to 600 in all, as others clearly travelled on the day and got a ticket - for a midweek game, and one pretty much in Scotland, this is phenomenal. I myself arrived home around 11ish, having left at 9.30am yesterday!

It was pleasing to see most players come over to us after the game, with some throwing their shirts into the crowd - although, and maybe I missed this appreciation to us, I was bitterly disappointed with Nadir Belhadj's reaction. He just turned and stormed off without even glancing at us or acknowledging us or his teammates!

The one drawback is some reports that there was some trouble in the city center after the game, resulting in several Pompey fans being arrested...

PLAY UP POMPEY!

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