Boss says Blues deserve title win
It has been a familiar part of Paul Cook’s weekly pre-match press conferences at the training ground.
Without fail he will repeat his mantra that at the end of the season, your final league position is what you deserve.
There will be frustrations along the way – a certain Fratton clash with Crewe springs immediately to mind.
But the important fact is that after 46 games of a gruelling campaign, it is Pompey who have claimed top spot.
A 6-1 rout of Cheltenham meant that they finished above Plymouth – who were held at Grimsby – on goal difference.
And Cook felt that after winning 10 of their past 12 games, his side thoroughly deserved to walk away with silverware.
The Blues boss said: “I’ve got to say how proud I am of the players and I don’t think you could write a better script than that.
“We’ve gone from the pain we felt going off the pitch at Plymouth last season to the joy we all feel now.
“I’ve said all that year the league tables don’t lie and we’ve probably only been top for about 10 minutes.
“In my opinion the best team is the one that finishes in first place – and that’s Portsmouth Football Club.
“Doncaster and Plymouth have both enjoyed fantastic seasons and credit to them for that, but the run our lads have been on recently is absolutely exceptional.
“To see my team play the way we did throughout that second half was a very proud moment for me.
“The game is all about players and I’m very lucky to have the ones we’ve got here. I’m also proud of this city and everyone at the club.
“I’ll have a few beers tonight with the chairman and everyone else. The fans sing that we’re on our way back – and we are.”
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