Is Pompey the most exciting fixture of the season?

By Paul Holland
March 12 2002

With the Blades having played Portsmouth in the league each season since they were relegated from the Premier League back in May 1994, Barnsley Blade wonders "Could Sheffield United v Portsmouth possibly be the most exciting game of each season?

In their first encounter of, so far, 8 years running, United won 3-1 with goals from Nathan Blake (2) and Andy Scott. The next season Portsmouth were hammered 4-1, only to see a 1-0 victory by the Blades the following season with a goal from Petr Katchouro.

The 1997/98-season fixture started the ball rolling (into the net) with memorable goals, United won 2-0 with a fabulous goal from Jan-Aage Fjortoft after he rounded the goalkeeper (hitting the ball wide) and slotting the ball home from a very tight angle from near the corner flag.

The Blades were drawing 1-1 the following season with only a few minutes left and neither team looked like scoring until Trianos Dellas thunderbolted a shot from all of 25 yards that almost ripped the net.

The 1999-00 fixture produced another goal to remember. Paul Devlin was the hero that day as he won the ball in the Blades penalty area from a Pompey corner, ran the full length of the pitch to power-drive past Aaron Flahavan into bottom left hand corner from 20 yards out (United won 1-0).

It was the opening day of the 2000/01 season and United were to play Portsmouth. The Blades won 2-0 comfortably, after Paul Devlin was fouled in the box after a 50 yard run, Devlin himself put away the penalty.

The Blades' second goal was given to Devlin although it could be a Linvoy Primus own goal after Devlin's shot looked to be going wide.

Unquestionably the most exciting game of this season came as United recorded eight straight victories against Portsmouth at Bramall Lane by winning 4-3.

Pompey took the lead through a Peter Crouch header after 6 minutes; 12 minutes later Nick Montgomery capped his second goal this season by tapping home a Michael Brown Free Kick. In 25th minute United took the lead after on-loan striker Paul Furlong headed home from a Bobby Ford corner. Pompey's Jason Crowe attempted to head the ball back to the goalkeeper only for Carl Asaba to find the net to make it 3-1.

A goalkeeper's disaster moment put Portsmouth back in the game just before half time, Welsh international Robert Page passed the ball to Tracey, Tracey scuffed it high up in the air and Robert Prosinecki rounded keeper and made it 3-2.

In the second half Nigel Quashie equalised after Portsmouth piled on pressure to head home. At 3-3 the game looked over even though United were pressing for the winner. Michael Brown was fouled in the box by ex-blade Shaun Derry (Derry was later sent off for a lunge on Peter Ndlovu), Paul Furlong stepped up to send the goalkeeper the wrong way and to win the game 4-3 for United.

The attendances have not shown that it is a high profile game, but the results possibly have. In recent years the fans of both clubs have seen wonder goals by United and some by Pompey but it is the way in which the game has been played that shows that there could hopefully be more exciting games between the two teams in the near future.

The aggregate score is set at 19-7 to United and it does look like there are plenty more games to follow.

Blades v Portsmouth at Bramall Lane

Season Result Scorers Gate
1994/95 3-1 Blake (2), Scott 13,467
1995/96 4-1 Veart (2), Flo, Battersby 11,205
1996/97 1-0 Katchouro 16,333
1997/98 2-1 Fjortoft (2) 15,895
1998/99 2-1 Saunders, Dellas 15,386
1999/00 1-0 Devlin 10,834
2000/01 2-0 Devlin (2) 15,816
2001/02 4-3 Montgomery, Furlong (2), Asaba 17,553

Agg 19-7 Total Gate: 116,489
Average Gate: 14,561