WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

PORTSMOUTH 1986-87 SECOND DIVISION RUNNERS-UP

- Neil Fissler

PORTSMOUTH were determined to make it third time lucky by winning promotion to the top flight for the first time in almost 30 years.

After being relegated from the First Division in 1959, they had flitted between the Second and Third Divisions, even spending two seasons in the bottom tier in the late 70s.

But under World Cup winner Alan Ball that was about to change – if they could just get themselves across the finishing line.

In the previous two seasons that had finished fourth, missing out on goal difference to Manchester City in 1984-85.

The solution was simple, according to winger Vince Hilaire – they started to mix up their game and also win more matches in front of their own fans at Fratton Park.

“We used to struggle at home,” admitted Hilaire. “We needed players to want the ball and to stand up and be counted, but we didn’t always have that.

“Alan Ball changed, too. He realised that you can’t just ‘out-football’ people and you can’t just outmuscle people either. Sometimes you need to do a bit of both.

“In the two seasons we missed out, wherever we played, we played 4-4-2, but Bally figured out that perhaps that wasn’t the way to go about it.

“We had to be more disciplined, and there were games when we went in with an extra defensive player instead.

Portsmouth finally clinched promotion by finishing in second place, six points behind champions Derby. Promotion was sealed when Oldham lost 2-0 at Shrewsbury in midweek and had to settle for a play-off place.

Portsmouth needed the helping hand after a late-season stumble saw them win only one of their last four games, including a defeat in their final game against Sheffield United when they were already up.