LET’S LEARN FROM PAST SAYS ERTL
JOHNNY Ertl has urged the Portsmouth board to learn from past mistakes in their recruitment of a new boss.
After Andy Awford’s exit last month, Pompey seek their eighth permanent boss in less than seven years.
Paul Cook, Martin Allen and Phil Brown are among the front-runners for the post, and captain Ertl said: “There’s such a big, great chance here. The things are in place and we can also learn, a little bit, from the mistakes of the past.”
MICK McCarthy saw his side snatch a 1-1 draw at Portman Road – then urged his players to see the job through for stricken team-mate Luke Varney after the midfielder’s season ended in agony.
The 32-year-old - on loan from Blackburn - had his shot at Wembley cruelly snatched away when he collapsed midway through the first half with a suspected ruptured achilles.
After six minutes of treatment the winger left the pitch in tears and could now be facing up to a year on the sidelines.
And after watching his replacement Paul Anderson equalise Jonny Howson’s opener to take a 11 draw to next week’s second leg at Carrow Road, McCarthy paid tribute to his fallen warrior.
“We think it’s a snapped Achilles,” said McCarthy.“He’s still on gas and air at the minute so I hope the drug testers don’t want him.
“He’s in bits the poor lad. He’s been wonderful for me, a real breath of fresh air. For a lad who has come on loan he has really contributed.
“He just such a great guy so we have got to make sure we look after him and make sure he’s going to be OK.
“It leaves me without a player for next week but the real disappointment is for him.
“You hate to see any player do that but for it to happen to a lad like that is devastating. I hope our lads can use this as inspiration.”
Varney’s misfortune provided a rare breather in a first half that rarely dropped below breakneck pace.
“It was everything we expected,” said Norwich boss Alex Neil, who called this two-legged play-off the biggest East Anglian Derby in history.
“Lots of tackles, everything 100 miles an hour.The ball couldn’t hit the ground without two people competing for it.”
As a result, it was Ipswich and their more direct style who emerged from the maelstrom, Freddie Sears and then Varney forcing a smart double stop from John Ruddy before Steven Whittaker had to clear one off the line.
Daryl Murphy flicked a header wide, then Anderson nodded over.
And the Tractor Boys were still on top when Norwich sprang their trap, Cameron Jerome pouncing on a slip from Tommy Smith before crossing for Jonny Howson to steer cleverly home into the corner on the half-volley.
Neil celebrated wildly, but his joy was short-lived.
A long punt up the centre of the field was weakly cleared by Russell Martin, then Freddie Sears’ followup could only be fumbled by Ruddy.
Though the prone Norwich keeper managed to kick clear, he was perhaps unlucky in that he found only Anderson, who couldn’t miss from six yards.
A raucous half-time send-off gave hope of an equally explosive second half but it never materialised as the exuberance of the first period gave way to a stagnant, chanceless and cagey ending.
“The intensity of the first half was never going to last the full 90 minutes,” added Neil, who will now head to Scotland as part of his studies for the UEFA Pro Licence before returning on Monday.
“And the more it wore on, the