The Fratton Faithful Awards 2018

Last updated : 13 May 2018 By Jim Bonner

The season ended a week ago and already fans are clamouring for the new campaign to begin as for some, weekends just ain't the same without Pompey.

Still, in the meantime, there were some awards to dish out for the season just finished both good and not-so-good. These were voted for by fans on Twitter so if you don't agree with the outcome, blame them, not me!

Without further ado, here are the results for 2018:

Player Of The Season

Whilst Luke McGee and Jamal Lowe both performed incredibly well in a fair few games this season, this award was mainly contested between two players.

Whilst Brett Pitman banged in 24 goals for the Blues in all competitions this season despite being perceived as lazy, it wasn't enough to claim the prize from Matt Clarke, who has been outstanding at the heart of Pompey's defence this season and can play a bit, too. It'll be a struggle to keep hold of him this summer.

WINNER: MATT CLARKE

Most Disappointing Player Of The Season

An alternative to naming the flat out worst player of the season as nobody was truly terrible but there were some players who didn't perform to expectations.

Connor Ronan arrived from Wolves with many who had watched him singing his praises yet despite his talent he never actually scored a goal and looked too lightweight for League One.

Many Pompey fans will be wondering just where Conor Chaplin's career is going after a lacklustre season, too. He hasn't scored as many goals as people would have predicted and he cannot force his way into Kenny Jackett's starting eleven so he may possibly have to leave Fratton Park for his own good.

Matty Kennedy won't be returning to Portsmouth and it's clear to see why as he started his loan spell well but performed so poorly in 2018 that he often couldn't even make the bench.

However, the winner of this award is a player who will be leaving Pompey despite being the club's top scorer last season. Where has it gone wrong for Kal Naismith? Just two goals scored this season and you could argue his biggest contribution to the season was his save against Doncaster when he had to play in goal!

WINNER: KAL NAISMITH

Unsung Hero Of The Season

Some players just don't get the credit they deserve, do they?

Oli Hawkins occasionally had to fill in at centre back when Pompey's squad was decimated by injuries and suspensions yet did an adequate job whilst Brandan Haunstrup has stepped up his game without anyone really noticing.

Dion Donohue may have had a slow start to his career on the south coast but vastly improved as the season progressed and his delivery is top quality at League One level.

However, there was a runaway winner of this award and it's safe to say that the right back position was well and truly strengthened when Nathan Thompson arrived from Swindon. When he isn't trolling Oxford players, Thompson goes about his business effectively and has become a key player in the team.

WINNER: NATHAN THOMPSON

Goal Of The Season

Pompey didn't score too many beauties this season compared to years gone by but there were a few crackers to enjoy.

Oli Hawkins' "how did he score that header from there!?" effort against Northampton received a few votes with Brett Pitman's solo jinking run and finish against Bristol Rovers claiming a few more.

The best two goals of the season came in the same game as Jamal Lowe's ridiculously accurate strike from the tightest of angles was beaten by Pitman's curling effort from outside the box against Fleetwood at Fratton Park. Here's hoping next season we have some 40-yard screamers to celebrate.

WINNER: BRETT PITMAN VS FLEETWOOD

Best Home Match Of The Season

As good as the two results against Fleetwood and Bristol Rovers were because of those goals in the previous category and as enjoyable as the thrashing of ten-man Oxford on Sky was, there was a landslide victory here.

Paul Cook's reaction as Lowe slotted in a second goal against title chasing Wigan was the perfect picture to summarise what happened when his ex-team beat title chasing Wigan at Fratton Park.

The atmosphere was electric and every single player in a blue shirt covered themselves in glory as they held on for a precious three points in the promotion race whilst getting one over on their old boss. Definitely the sweetest moment of the season.

WINNER: PORTSMOUTH 2 WIGAN ATHLETIC 1

Worst Home Match Of The Season

The 1-0 defeat to Rotherham live on TV put everyone in a sour mood whilst a couple of goals from former loanee Eoin Doyle for Oldham meant a miserable October evening following a gutless performance against the Latics.

However, the main contenders for this award were two back-to-back abominal showings in February and March.

Blackpool weren't particularly good when they came and won comfortably at Fratton Park as Pompey were booed off for their total lack of effort. However, to be leading against Gillingham after the first half only to completely collapse and allow the Gills to trample them was unacceptable and a deserved "winner" of this award.

WINNER: PORTSMOUTH 1 GILLINGHAM 3

Best Away Match Of The Season

Whilst the home match against Blackpool was one that the fans will want to forget, any Pompey fan who was at Bloomfield Road will have much fonder memories of the Tangerines as despite being pegged back twice, Pitman snatched a later winner in a pulsating 3-2 win.

However, true to form, this award tends to go to whichever away win was attended by the most fans. So whilst an accomplished performance and deserved 1-0 victory at Charlton took second place, 6,000 fans witnessed over 80 turgid minutes at stadium:mk only for two late goals, including one in the dying seconds of the game, snatch a 2-1 win over MK Dons.

WINNER: MILTON KEYNES DONS 1 PORTSMOUTH 2

Worst Away Match Of The Season

There were so many dreadful days on the road this season that the 3-0 thrashing at Blackburn and the last-gasp defeat at Rotherham didn't even make the shortlist for this award.

In fourth place was the heartbreaking defeat at the Memorial Ground on New Year's Day as two late goals from Bristol Rovers ensured Pompey began 2018 on a low. The 3-1 defeat at relegation strugglers Northampton on a Tuesday night was even worse, with an own goal thrown in for good measure.

The first away match of the season is the runner-up for this award as Oxford made light work of a Pompey team still gelling but the outright winner was the final away match of the campaign as bottom feeders Bury claimed a 1-0 win thanks to a truly dire performance from Pompey, punctuated by McGee's Cryuff turn gone wrong to allow George Miller an easy tap in.

WINNER: BURY 1 PORTSMOUTH 0

Best Opposition

An easy one, this. Shrewsbury may have been effective and organised in the two games they played against Pompey but Blackburn were a class above. They easily demolished Kenny Jackett's men at Ewood Park and managed to win at Fratton Park even though Pompey performed well.

It'll be interesting to see if any team can match Rovers for quality in League One next season with Portsmouth included in that list.

WINNER: BLACKBURN ROVERS

Worst Opposition

Like League Two, the division above also had its fair share of utter dross no matter how high they finished in the table. Plymouth were wretched when they lost at Fratton Park and should have been beaten at Home Park, too.

Pompey only managed to do the double over a paltry three teams this season. AFC Wimbledon came up just short in both matches they played against Portsmouth whilst Fleetwood were victim to a couple of quality goals at Fratton Park despite being terrible enough to lose to Pompey at home on a Tuesday night.

However, MK Dons were easily beaten at Fratton Park despite being one of the favourites for promotion this season and the return fixture also saw them throw away victory late on despite being matched for quality by a poor Pompey team. Franchise FC were deservedly relegated.

WINNER: MILTON KEYNES DONS

And that's it for this season! Thanks to everyone who voted. Next up will be some more "Since the Millennium" features to tide everyone over before the 2018/2019 season begins.