Gaffer: Sean Raggett's the most astonishing turnaround I've ever seen at Portsmouth
Gaffer for a Day, Andrew Smith, aged 60 from Southampton, reflects on Pompey’s 3-0 win over Rochdale...
What are you thoughts on the game?
It was played in difficult conditions, although Rochdale tried to knock the ball around so the conditions weren’t so bad for them.
Ryan Williams scored the opening goal at a crucial time, on the stroke of the interval, which changes the manager’s team talk and dressing room mood.
It took us a long time to add to it in the second half, but we could have got four, five or six in the end.
Eventually we got there, even if it was far harder work than it should have been.
Who stood out?
Sean Raggett produced almost a Matt Clarke-like performance, he was imperious at the back, moping up everything so well.
This is the most amazing turnaround in a Pompey player that I can think of, even more dramatic than Linvoy Primus, who wasn’t a bad player but Harry Redknapp initially didn’t rate him.
I can also recall Colin Sullivan getting a hard time, but nothing as dramatic as Raggett.
At the start he was so awkward and comfortable, it was hard to believe he was a professional footballer. An astonishing turnaround.
What about the substitute impact of Steve Seddon?
What a magnificent strike for his goal, probably the cleanest one I have seen from Pompey all season.
I suspect he upped his game a little after being dropped for Lee Brown, it was a reminder that he is not necessarily automatic first choice.
For the third goal, headed in by Christian Burgess, that was a superb free-kick from Seddon, who is better than Brown at crossing.
With Arsenal next, I would name the Birmingham loanee at left-back.
Pompey now third in the table too.
Yes, although when the others play today that probably won’t be the case.
Having said that, they will have played an extra game on us.
It’s a shame Christian Burgess is now suspended for two league games, he’s had a spate of them in the last few weeks, so Jack Whatmough will come in from the cold.
Entering the final bend, we are strongly on the shoulder of the promotion contenders.
Alex Bass 8
James Bolton 7
Christian Burgess 6
Sean Raggett 8
Lee Brown 7
Tom Naylor 6
Cameron McGeehan 5
Ryan Williams 7
Andy Cannon 6
Ronan Curtis 6
John Marquis 4