Pompey 2 AC Milan 2: Deflation yet celebration

What can be said?
There are no words that can possibly do Fratton Park justice last night.

Thousands of fans around the city - and the country - will have walked into work today bulging with pride.

The superlatives have been flooding in via The News' website and, while the feeling after AC Milan's late equaliser was one of overwhelming deflation, there is also a large element of celebration.

Firstly at the performance of Pompey's patched-up team, which defied all expectations.

And secondly, at the way the fans showed the rest of Europe what they are about.

Here, in no particular order, are my highlights of an extraordinary night from my seat in the Milton end.

- Jumping up and down in delight when Younes Kaboul scored - and then jumping a foot higher in disbelief when Kanu found the roof of the net.

- Hearing Pompey fans shout 'who are ya?' at the travelling Milan brigade without a hint of irony. For 80 minutes, they were justified!

- Watching Ronaldinho counter a volley of abuse from one particular fan by blowing him an exaggerated kiss - the fan soon lost his bottle!

- Being directly behind the great Brazilian's free-kick - you just heard the net ripple as everyone gaped in admiration.

- Watching two players acknowledge the crowd in two very different ways. Despite preparing to defend a corner, Belhadj couldn't resist a couple of cheeky waves to the crowd, who promptly told him to pay attention to the game! Clarence Seedorf, meanwhile, swaggered along the touchline before regally saluting the Milton end - three Champions League wins allows you to do that!

- Seeing Richard Hughes scythe down Flamini - Pompey's resident AC Milan fan will savour that moment for the rest of his life!

- The spine-tingling, awe-inspiring 15-minute chant of 'Tony Adams' blue and white army' which reverberated all around the ground. During the performance there was a break in play and you could see the players looking around in amazement.

- Being 10 yards from Kaka as he stood at the near post.

- Sensing a degree of inevitability, having to watch Inzaghi prod home the equaliser as Pompey's backline lost their men. When Glen Johnson hammered the ball back into the net in frustration, he spoke for all of us.

- Finally, the applause from Ronaldinho directed at all parts of the ground during his warm-down. A classy man from a classy club. AC Milan's comments after the match were humble and appreciative of Pompey's players and atmosphere, capping a wonderful fixture.

There we go, a few titbits from the night, which is one of the best games I've ever had the privilege to be at.

Feel free to share your memories from the game in the comment box below and I'll be sure to pick out the best ones for publication in the Sports Mail and The News.

Stadium saga rolls on

If there's one word which strikes a nerve at Pompey, it's stadium.

In particular, a new one.

While The News' sportsdesk's reporting of the club's football team can cause arguments and the occasional snub, nothing provokes such blind panic as criticism of Pompey's plans for a new ground.

The club believe they should get zero negativity in their pursuit of a new home on Horsea Island (above).

Most people back it (certainly more than the previous unrealistic grandiose plan to plonk a 35,000-seater stadium next to the dockyard).

But the job of a newspaper is to report the facts and the full spectrum of opinion.

Local papers are not the club's newsletter and Pompey must realise this.

Reacting with an impetuous statement on their website every time something is written they don't agree with smacks of self-importance and some sort of Big Brother (George Orwell not Jade Goody) regime.

The worse thing, and the club know this, is fans buy it.

Blind faith is common in our tribal game - just listen to the cringeworthy 606.

The News website has been swamped with fans lambasting the paper. Unbelievable.

The same people who turn to us for breaking news on transfers and all things Pompey, suddenly now think we are bare-face liars.

Their contempt for the paper doesn't stop them hogging our messageboards.

We know we can't win because we are stuck between the fans and the club, both of whom want to be told everything's rosy all of the time.

It's not, of course (it has to be pointed out this is not the club's first stadium plan!). That's not real life, that's blind faith.

But then when did reality ever come into football.

Is Davis on his way out of Pompey?

So the question is: How much do Pompey want to keep Sean Davis?

The midfielder is out of contract at the end of the season, but according to the player the club has yet to make any moves to tie him up on a new deal.

In interviews Pompey boss Harry Redknapp regularly appears reluctant to talk up the midfielder, prompting speculation of a personality clash.

There is also no doubt that pre-season Pompey were keen to get rid of him in order to balance the books.

Celtic came in, but Davis didn't fancy a move to Scotland.

In the end, Pedro Mendes was sacrificed to appease the bank manager.

Davis has responded this season by playing well, providing a quality foil for the more wide-ranging skills of Lassana Diarra.

It's clear he wants to stay - but the silence from the Pompey hierarchy is deafening.

Davis told The News:

'I don't want to go anywhere else but at the moment I have no idea where my
future will be.

'The ball's in their court, it's always been in their court.'

The former Fulham man appears underrated by the Pompey management, although fans are quickly on to the messageboards to laud his contribution.

Is he easily replaceable or should he be tied down?

I think his on-field displays deserve a new contract, but you get the feeling Pompey - for whatever reason - would be happy to see the midfielder leave Fratton Park.