Why Portsmouth skipper refuses to celebrate 'unbelievable achievement' of Championship survival
Marlon Pack has hailed Pompey’s ‘unbelievable achievement’ - but is adamant it shouldn’t be celebrated.
Having been rooted to the foot of the Championship in December, remarkably the Blues have secured safety with two matches remaining.
It was accomplished on Easter Monday courtesy a 1-0 success over Watford at a jubilant Fratton Park, with Pompey’s home form having been pivotal to their successive survival fight.
After capturing the League One title last term to end a 12-year wait for Championship football, John Mousinho’s men will now remain there.
And while club captain Pack acknowledged the impressive feat, he has stopped short of celebrating.
He told The News: ‘It has been an unbelievable achievement, but it’s not something we should be celebrating - and that’s because of the mentality of this group.
‘It’s a different achievement to winning the League One title, but one of equal worth to the football club and for us as players considering we’ve gone through so much this season.
‘No wins after the opening nine games, a tough start, Colby’s heart issue, injuries, adapting to this level. Yet we have come through that adversity and, since Christmas, this group has shown we belong at this level.
‘Don’t get me wrong, while we shouldn’t be celebrating, I still think it’s such a big achievement and one we will be proud of.
‘I always felt we had enough - and that’s not wearing blue-tinted glasses. I see it in training and it’s just about going and delivering it. We were probably unlucky with injuries, also the negative momentum of losing games, especially early in the season, countless last-minute goals conceded.
‘We had a decent January window and got some players through the door and they’ve helped, but, prior to that, we had started to put some results together and had created a belief.
‘I don’t want to make too many excuses, but we are against sides with bigger resources and more stability in the Championship and that’s hard to compete against.
‘There have been tweaks in what we’ve had to do and how we’ve approached some games, yet I think we’ve been consistent, especially our demeanour. We’ve tried to create intensity and a culture around the training ground. then hopefully, if you continue to do that over the course of a season, you’ll get the just rewards.
‘Credit to the staff, credit to the group, credit to the fanbase and the football club. Our goal was to stay in the division - so to do that with two games to go is really pleasing for us.’
‘There’s ambition to go further’
Matt Ritchie wore the captain’s armband for the moment Pompey secured survival, with Pack an unused substitute.
Still, the Buckland boy has totalled 39 appearances this season, albeit many of his 29 starts coming in the unfamiliar role of centre-back.
Regardless, he and Ritchie have now helped the club they support stabilise in the Championship during a roller-coaster ride of a season.
He added: ‘This Championship shows you this is the level you want to be. Of course there will be ambition to go further, but that’s not for now, that’s for the long-term.
‘But, in the short-term, you've seen the grounds we’ve gone to this season, we’ve seen the players we have gone up against, that’s a great advertisement. Lucky for us, we can now sit back and see the fight between the sides below us now trying to stay in the division.
‘It’s such a fantastic division, such a competitive division and for us as football it’s paramount that we stay in it to continue to build success.’
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