Last updated: 11th May 2008
FULL TIME They've done it! They left it late, but they've survived thanks to Danny Murphy's late header. The fans are leaping up and down in jubilation and even Hodgson's joining in, but Al Fayed still looks a bit dour. Stay with skysports.com for all the post-match reaction.
90+3 - Keller claims under some pressure and releases the ball.
90+3 - Pompey corner...
90+2 - Pompey still attack as Fulham continue to give everything to keep them out and then blast clear repeatedly.
90+1 - It's cleared at the near post. There's three added minutes to play...
90 - Pompey corner...
90 - Pompey are attacking but not with a lot of intent. The ball's with Keller again.
88 - Nervy moments there as Defoe blasts over from close range, but it was given offside anyway.
87 - Pompey go on the attack again but fail to do much to threaten and the ball's with Keller.
86 - McBride goes down injured and the clock runs down a little more.
84 - Johnson very nearly gives away possession in a very dangerous position, but he escapes with the ball. Kamara's coming off now to be replaced by Leon Andreasen.
83 - Muntari's coming on for Diarra and Pompey are back on the attack. Bit of respite here, though, as Defoe's offside.
82 - It finds a way to Johnson, whose shot is blocked, and then a deep, bouncing ball causes problems, but Fulham have a goal-kick now.
82 - Pompey corner...
80 - Fulham back on the attack. They're easing the pressure by taking a long time over a throw-in. They eventually take it and super-sub Nevland nearly adds a second after a great piece of skill.
78 - Hodgson's facial expressions are fairly underwhelming, but the fans' are somewhere between ecstatic are nervy messes. This will be a very tense last 15 minutes if it stays the way it is.
76 - GOAL FOR FULHAM!!! They got one, too. Murphy heads in from Bullard's swinging, deep free-kick.
76 - Birmingham are back in front, but it makes little difference. Fulham need a goal now.
74 - Fulham go close twice with two goalmouth scrambles following corners.
72 - Redkanpp follows suit, withdrawing Mendes - who gets a warm round of applause - with Sean Davis. Kanu's also off, with Baros his replacement.
72 - The super sub arrives: Erik Nevland is coming on for Clint Dempsey.
71 - It's end-to-end stuff still. There could well be a sting in the tail here...
70 - Ashdown claims it easily.
70 - Bullard's free-kick clips the wall. Corner kick.
69 - Fulham have a free-kick on the edge of the area. Pamarot gets angry with Kamara, because he think he went down too easily. Looked a free-kick, though.
66 - Defoe was played in there by Kanu, but couldn't get a shot away as he had his back to goal.
65 - Hodgson is looking on with a very grim expression indeed. Pompey are bossing things now and edging into the Fulham area more and more.
62 - Bullard clears and it's back in the Pompey half.
62 - Pompey have a corner after Konchesky cleared.
61 - It's 2-0 Reading, so Fulham definitely need the win.
60 - That's the closest Fulham have come. Bullard's deep corner found the back post and a bit of head tennis around the goal ensued. It's away now though.
59 - Fulham corner again...
58 - What do you think? Can Fulham take control of the game and test Ashdown? hackett.robin@gmail.com
57 - Kranjcar blasts a swerving shot from just outside the area but Keller manages to get behind it. Bullard then takes it down the other end and plays an awful cross-shot. He's having a very poor game today by his standards.
57 - Much better that time but they get it away anyway.
56 - Fulham corner. Can Bullard finally deliver a cross that troubles the Pompey defence?
55 - More sloppy play from Bullard, who allows Diarra to steal the ball just outside the area. His shot goes over, though.
54 - Murphy gets a header in after a cross from Davies. It lacks power and doesn't trouble Ashdown.
53 - Defoe gets it up over the wall but not down under the bar. Goal kick.
53 - Pompey have a free-kick right on the edge of the box after Defoe was brought down.
52 - Bullard slips as he takes it and it's an easy take for Ashdown.
52 - Good news for Fulham: they have a corner and Blackburn have equalised.
50 - Pompey are camped in the Fulham half at the moment but Mendes eases the pressure by overhitting a pass right for Johnson. Goal-kick.
48 - Defoe has a chance after a good ball wide from Kranjcar. He takes it from a ludicrously tight angle, though, and Keller saves easily.
46 - Kranjcar tests Keller staright away after an impressive bit of skill, but it's an easy save.
SECOND HALF Fulham get the game back underway.
HALF-TIME It's neatly poised going into the second half. A goal is all Fulham need, but they haven't done a huge amount to suggest they're capable of getting one so far.
45+1 - Kranjcar goes for the spectacular, meeting the corner first-time on the volley and firing miles over again.
45 - Mendes tries one with the outside of the boot from the edge of the area, but it's deflected for a corner.
44 - Johnson takes a free-kick wide on the right. It takes a massive deflection but arrives easily at Keller, who somehow manages to drop it anyway. There's no-one there to take advantage and he reclaims it easily.
43 - Great work from Kanu very nearly sets up Defoe, but Dempsey was there to stop him at the last.
40 - Distin carelessly gives the ball away and Fulham could have made something of the opportunity. Instead, the home side clear and it's down the other end for Defoe to chip wide.
38 - Kamara charges into the box but can't outsmart the Pompey defence and they eventually get it clear. Kamara looks the most likely to pull something out of a hat for Hodgson and his men right now.
36 - There's optimism from Fulhamhamster: "I think the match has gone quite smoothly so sar. We have had most possession. We should have had a penalty. I think we will win 2-1." Hard to see where three goals are coming from right now, but these things can change very quickly...
33 - Things nearly go from bad to worse as Utaka flashes one across the Fulham box after taking on Konchesky. No-one there, though.
32 - Mendes is down after a clash with Murphy. He's off on the sidelines but should be okay. Meanwhile, Birmingham are one-up against Blackburn.
30 - There's not much of an incisive edge right now from either side and Daz Box fancies a stalemate: "i rekon it would be a draw, im a massive pompey fan but most peoples minds would be on next week."
28 - Bullard tries to step up by blasting on miles over from outside the area. He looks a bit annoyed with himself. Good work from Davies in the build-up, who won the ball like a little terrier. Terrier-like play could be all-important today.
26 - Kamara shows what he's capable of down the left wing, taking on numerous players before earning a free-kick. Bullard doesn't make the best of it again, though. They'll need Jimmy to step up a little if they're to escape today.
24 - Kanu threatens to open the scoring but his shot is well blocked on the edge of the area.
19 - Dempsey wants a penalty after stumbling following a neat ball into the area. Didn't look like a pen at first glance - more like bad control.
19 - All a little bit sloppy at the moment and Fulham are treading a fine line between a battling performance and a nervy performance.
17 - Kranjcar has a free-kick from distance saved. It was right along the ground but could have caught Keller off-guard had he been unsighted.
Your thoughts Mail me on hackett.robin@gmail.com and let me know what you reckon so far.
14 - Kamara looked like he was through for a second there, but Distin stopped it and it was offside anyway. A bit of a non-story, really. Bad news for fans of both teams: Reading are one up and Villa are now level.
12 - Pompey chance! Kranjcar is set up with a bouncing ball inside the area but it's well over. Mr Wenger won't be impressed by that.
11 - Davies tries a cross on the right but it goes straight behind for a goal kick.
10 - Good news for Pompey fans: Villa are 1-0 down against West Ham.
9 - Defoe strikes the wall and Fulham get it away.
9 - Pompey free-kick just outside the area. There's several players stood around it and this could be dangerous.
8 - It's cleared fairly easily.
8 - Free-kick for Fulham after Dempsey is brought down. Not shooting range, but Bullard lines it up with intent.
6 - Pompey are getting a bit more control in the middle now. Good start for Fulham nonetheless.
5 - Fulham counter-counter-attack and test Ashdown early on with a low drive right in the corner.
4 - Davies tries to get down the wing but Hreidarsson close him out and Pompey counter-attack.
1 - Kamara tries to get on the end of a deep ball but it's straight out for a goal-kick. More patience will likely be needed today, chaps.
Kick off Portsmouth get the game underway.
Contact info If you want to be in touch throughout the game, drop me a line on hackett.robin@gmail.com and I'll do my very best to share your thoughts with the world.
Team news Erik Nevland continues on the bench despite his goal last week, while Jari Litmanen can't find a way into the squad despite finally proving his fitness. For Pompey, David James has lost his battle for fitness so Jamie Ashdown comes in. John Utaki returns from injury and makes the starting line-up, while Sulley Muntari returns from injury but only makes the bench. Campbell remains sidelined but Pamarot is back in the team for the first time in three months. Kanu is also back in the side.
Teams:
Portsmouth: Ashdown, Johnson, Distin, Pamarot, Hreidarsson, Utaka, Diarra, Mendes, Kranjcar, Defoe, Kanu. Subs: Begovic, Baros, Muntari, Davis, Wilson.
Fulham: Keller, Stalteri, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Davies, Murphy, Bullard, Dempsey, Kamara, McBride. Subs: Warner, Bocanegra, Healy, Nevland, Andreasen.
Preview It all comes down to this one for Fulham. They've done well recently to ensure their fate remains in their own hands and victory today all but guarantees they'll be playing Premier League football next season. Fail to win, though, and they're relying on favours from Blackburn and, more worryingly, Derby. Meanwhile, the prevailing wisdom is that none of this means very much for Portsmouth but, should results involving Villa and Blackburn go their way, they could sneak into sixth place and gain an Intertoto lifeline if they fail to lift the FA Cup.
Welcome to skysports.com's live minute-by-minute coverage of Portsmouth v Fulham at Fratton Park.
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| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 20 | 45 |
| 2 | Chelsea | 20 | 42 |
| 3 | Manchester United | 18 | 38 |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 20 | 38 |
| 5 | Arsenal | 20 | 35 |
| 6 | Everton | 20 | 32 |
| 7 | Wigan Athletic | 19 | 28 |
| 8 | Hull City | 20 | 27 |
| 9 | Fulham | 19 | 26 |
| 10 | West Ham United | 20 | 25 |
| 11 | Bolton Wanderers | 20 | 23 |
| 12 | Portsmouth | 20 | 23 |
| 13 | Manchester City | 20 | 22 |
| 14 | Newcastle United | 20 | 22 |
| 15 | Sunderland | 20 | 22 |
| 16 | Tottenham Hotspur | 20 | 20 |
| 17 | Middlesbrough | 20 | 20 |
| 18 | Stoke City | 20 | 20 |
| 19 | Blackburn Rovers | 20 | 18 |
| 20 | West Bromwich Albion | 20 | 18 |