Tall tales
By Pete Fincham
Thinking back, that decision did cost us our place in the First Division. Then again, if we hadn't have been relegated, would we have got rid of Petchey and, in turn, would we not have embarked on the latest in GT's Magical Mystery tours through the divisions?
However, at the time it was like a death nail in our Division One coffin. There were still points to play for, but with luck like that, who needs hope?
For those who were not there, have not seen it, or have forgotten, we were 1-0 up with ten minutes to go thanks to Colin Foster. The week before we had beaten Oldham, winning for the first time since my birthday (December 16th against Tranmere). We were to get two wins in a row for the first time since...well, since the season before! We were bottom and they were top! Surely we could hold out?
Then Page slides in on Yates and wins the ball. Play continues, as not even the Derby lads thought it was a foul.
But the referee had other ideas! Penalty, they scored, we lost two points. At the end of the season, we went down by four points and they got promoted. So those two would not have made any difference, but going into the last game of the season our fate was not in our hands, and when it became clear that Pompey were not going to lose at Huddersfield, we all knew the game was up.
Thought: Who says decisions even out over the course of a season?
