
'Leeds win was far from smash and grab'
An incredible day at Fratton Park. Yes Pompey have been excellent at home since November but this felt like another level. They've beaten the best team in the division and they deserved to.They got a bit of fortune with two bad misses from Joel Piroe and the benefit of the doubt on an early penalty but this wasn't a smash and grab victory - for large portions of the game Portsmouth were the better team.The performance couldn't have been more different to last week at Luton. I've felt for the last couple of weeks that had all the centre-backs been fit, Pompey could dream of a top-half finish. The way Regan Poole and Marlon Pack played, the injured defensive trio weren't missed.Before any lofty goals are set Pompey need to see off Plymouth on Wednesday. Do that and another year in the Championship is all but assured.

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Wales Online
an hour ago
- Wales Online
Cardiff City star reveals what really surprised him about relegation and the moment he 'collapsed'
Cardiff City star reveals what really surprised him about relegation and the moment he 'collapsed' The defender spoke about his time at the club ahead of his departure Dimitrios Goutas of Cardiff City celebrates scoring his team's third goal against Swansea (Image: Getty Images ) Departing Cardiff City star Dimitrios Goutas has opened up on his time in the Welsh capital and the disappointment he felt over suffering relegation in his final season at the club. Goutas was signed by Erol Bulut during the Turkish manager's first summer with the Bluebirds. Bulut had intimate knowledge of Goutas, who previously played in Turkey with Sivasspor. He quickly became a nailed-on first choice at centre-back, growing a partnership with Mark McGuinness and becoming a fan favourite, too. However, it wasn't all plain sailing for the Greece international. He endured spells of poor form and was left out of the team for his final months of the season after his performances dipped. In a wide-ranging interview with Sport24, translated on X by @MouzS13, Goutas spoke about his transition to the Championship and the eye-opening physicality it brought. Goutas' time at Cardiff started with a trip away to Leeds, a thrilling game which saw City go two goals ahead before succumbing to a stoppage-time equaliser. Join the Cardiff City breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community One moment in that Elland Road clash stood out to him and made him realise the stern task that was to face him during his two seasons with the club. Article continues below "Think about the level," he added. "In the first season in the division it was Leicester, Southampton, Leeds. Insane level, Premier League teams. It was fire. Nothing scared me. Not even when I realized that it would actually be different. "And that happened right away. I was playing in my first match, at Leeds. We were leading 2-0 at half-time. I was fine. The second half starts, a corner kick, I take a step back to make a jump, the opponent comes, hits me in the head, knocks me down. "I get up and immediately think about protesting. Everything we're used to. But I turn around and see that none of my team-mates are around to support me. They're gone, they're not even paying attention to the situation. "And then I realize... 'Dimitris, welcome. Now join the dance and dance like they dance here'. "From that moment on. From the first game. And I was lucky that it happened that way. I continued, I accepted it and from then on, in everything, in training, in games, in my daily life, in my mindset, I adapted straight away." The relentlessness of the Championship finally caught up with Goutas, and Cardiff, for that matter, as they suffered relegation to League One. It had been coming for some time, fans were worried since Christmas, but in truth they had been worried for a couple of years, with many braced for the inevitable. However, in a telling statement, Goutas, who will leave the club this month upon the expiry of his deal, said he was surprised by how the club ultimately ebbed towards the drop. "What was the problem? Maybe we were too relaxed. And not just us on the field. Everyone around the team, even the fans. No pressure, no disapproval," he said of relegation. "You see, in the game where we were relegated mathematically, I expected that when I left, things would be very difficult. But there were 100 people and they were waiting patiently, kindly, for autographs. "We fell and yet we had a sponsored night to recognize the best player of the season. The whole atmosphere had nothing to do with Greece or even Turkey. "Here (Greece), you know. Chaos, swearing, not being able to go out on the street. There, a completely different environment. It might have only been like that in our group. I am not sure. "In general, the way everyone was treated and approached, didn't make you feel like 'Wake up, we're going down!' I don't know if we would have stayed in the division if I had stayed in the team. I think it was a cycle that closed anyway." Article continues below Many attributed Goutas' declining form to the exit of his close friend and compatriot, Manolis Siopis, in January. And he admitted that there certainly was some truth in that school of thought. Sign up to our daily Cardiff City newsletter here. "He was a huge help when I was in Cardiff," he said of the midfielder. "He has a way of decompressing those around him, of making them relax. And I told him that when he left. I would collapse without him being here. "And I collapsed. I didn't have a person to shout to, to have fun with, to vent to. It was a big deal for me. And yes, he keeps telling me that it's time to come back."


BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Promoted Ipswich offer new deals to 13 players
Top scorers Sophie Peskett and Natasha Thomas head a list of 13 players offered new contracts by Ipswich Town following promotion to the second tier of women's will play in the Championship next season after winning the Women's National League Southern Premier title, finishing six points clear of chief rivals Hashtag who became Ipswich's first professional women's player, in 2021, scored 27 goals, while Jamaica international Thomas was on target 21 Boswell, Charlotte Fleming, Shauna Guyatt, Laura Hartley, Summer Hughes, Leah Mitchell, Natalia Negri, Lucy O'Brien, Kyra Robertson, Ruby Seaby and Megan Wearing have also been offered new Angela Addison, Maisy Barker, Issy Bryant, Grace Garrad, Ella Rutherford and Evie Williams have all been released. Barker, who scored four goals in 28 appearances last season, was the longest-serving of the six let go, having joined Town from West Ham in 2023.


BreakingNews.ie
2 hours ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Sunday sport: Donegal face Mayo, Tyrone go up against Cavan
Action continues today in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship as things heat up in Group 1, where all four teams can both progress and be eliminated. Donegal and Mayo face off at Dr Hyde Park from 4pm, while at the same time, Tyrone come up against Cavan at Brewster Park. Advertisement Before that, the top spot in Group 3 is up for grabs in the game between Monaghan and Down. Throw in at the Athletic Grounds is at 2pm, with Louth going up against Clare at the same time. Meanwhile, the semi-final line up of the Tailteann Cup will be revealed later. From 1:15pm, Wicklow will take on Westmeath, with Limerick at home to Wexford at 3:45pm. Golf Sam Burns is the man to catch into the final round of the US Open at Oakmont. He is 4 under par, just a shot off Adam Scott and JJ Spaun. Rory McIlroy well off it on 10 over par. Athletics Ireland's Sophie O'Sullivan has claimed a stunning victory at the NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Oregon. The 23-year-old stormed to gold in the women's 1,500 metres, clocking 4:07.94 after a blistering final lap of 58.43 seconds. O'Sullivan becomes just the fifth Irish woman to win an NCAA title, following in the footsteps of her mother, Sonia. Meanwhile, Rhasidat Adeleke returns to action this evening at the Stockholm Diamond League. The Dublin woman will line up in the 400 metres at 6pm Irish time.