Aside from our first game back in The Premiership which resulted in a 2-1 win (even though Villa had a dodgy penalty given for them when Gareth Barry tripped himself up in the box!!) out of all the Midlands sides in The Premiership we have only beaten Birmingham and West Brom by virtue of a last minute Lua Lua goal. A grand total of 14 measly points from 48. That includes such giants of the game like Wolves, Birmingham, Villa, WBA, and dare I say Leicester.

Ah good old Leicester who we've NEVER beaten and you've guessed it fittingly inflicted our highest ever defeat, a sorry 10-0 reverse on the 20th October 1928, when it was probably pouring with absolutely torrential rain and the match still went ahead, and presumably Dion Dublin made his debut. And I'm sure even if we played them tomorrow with half of their entire squad injured or on rape charges we still would not beat them. We could play for two weeks against 5 men and still not win.

It's the curse of the Midlands.

And so the curse struck again last night, no one can deny not even tunnel vision O'Leary that Pompey were the better side, created many more chances and deserved to win the game. But the fact of the matter is we didn't.

Was it because of a lack of a fox in the box, or at least someone who can look like scoring? Possibly. Was it Lua Lua and Robert being a two-man team?
Possibly. Was it because Aston Villa are from Birmingham smack bang in the
middle of the Pompey Bermuda Triangle of Points? Definitely.

On the plus points from the game there was hope for the future with Lua, Robert, Vignal, O'Neil putting in fine displays and an impressive debut from Priske (I bet Mike Newell is kicking himself). Although the story of our season so far is the lack of finishing or presence in the box. You've got to feel a bit sorry for Karadas, Lua Lua's style of play and desire to get on the ball often leaves the big man isolated. But for 6ft 5in he does not impose himself enough and his touch does not seem that of a Premiership player. You only have to look at Geoff Horsfield to see that a player of limited ability can still cause problems by using his attributes (strength, height) as he did to us. Karadas does not seem to leave any mark on the game. The jeering from some sections of the crowd is needless and will no doubt affect his confidence but I can understand the frustration felt by fans.

I hope he proves all the doubters wrong and proves to be a shrewd signing, but I can't help think that the addition of Carlton Cole or faith in the ability and fitness of Todorov, Pericard and Mbesuma will be better for Pompey overall. It was clear that from the ten minutes that Toddy enjoyed last night he has the hunger, nous and ability to become the goalscorer that we need. Pericard too was impressive and hard to deal with.

I think we will be fine this season if we can find that balance up front to utilise Lua's undoubted genius and a tangible goal threat, supplemented by a true right winger (what are the chances of getting Sir Steve Stone back?). The good news we've got a point and something to cling to and a performance that would suggest that we are not one of the three worst teams in the league, the bad news is Birmingham at home on 17th September - damn the
curse!!

By Chris Pook