Even if it’s as a bit-part player, Raggett deserves to stay!
Did you enjoy that?
I kept looking over to the South Stand where I had a season ticket with my grandad and thought how happy he would have been if alive. He’d have loved that.
It was a fantastic party atmosphere, everyone was happy. It didn't matter whether we won or lost, it was just a case of waiting for the trophy to be lifted.
We’ve had money problems, relegations, were on the verge of extinction, but since 2017 have won two divisions, the Checkatrade Trophy and lost in another Wembley final. How can you grumble!
We did it in the Pompey way too. Winning the title in the 89th minute after being behind. You don’t want mediocrity!
What did you make of the display?
It was a hangover. Wigan were on top for the opening 20 minutes and we didn’t get out of second gear all game. I suppose if we had needed to get a win or draw - and without the midweek celebrations - we would have won. We just lacked that intensity at points.
Owen Vanderhoven, aged 36 from Waterlooville, assesses Pompey’s 2-1 defeat to Wigan...
Who was your man of the match?
Maybe it’s the emotions getting the better of me, but Sean Raggett was brilliant and deserves a new contract. Even if it’s as a bit-part player, he must stay.
If you show effort at Fratton Park then you’re always going to be loved and he’s a reliable performer who gives everything.
Raggett is a bit of an oldfashioned centre-half, like Darren Moore. Moore had the turning circle of the QE2, and would never play it out, but nobody moaned. Raggett is better than that.
There are two different types of fans. The online ones, who get you sucked in with horrible negativity, and those who go to games and watch Raggett and think ‘Hang on, he’s not that bad’.
So how do you see the future?
The Championship is where we belong. The Premier League was a nice holiday, but we are a Championship club.
I actually want Southampton to win promotion because the top 10 in the Championship is like a mini-premier League and I don’t want to play them.
We need to consolidate, stay up, and then build on it. I’m nervous, but looking forward to it.