Portsmouth clinch promotion and championship (original) (raw)
Updated / Thursday, 14 Jun 2007 17:34
Portsmouth were crowned Nationwide First Division champions today after securing their place in next season's Premiership with a 3-2 win over Rotherham. Top-scorer Svetoslav Todorov was the hero scoring twice in the win over battling Rotherham.
In a five-goal thriller which proved a fitting finale to an incredible season for the home side, Harry Redknapp's men claimed the three points that put them out of reach of second-placed Leicester at the top of the table, with a game still to play.
All the action came in a exhilarating first half as Rotherham twice came from behind to level and threaten to spoil the Fratton Park party. But Todorov's goals after 22 and 45 minutes, which followed Paul Merson's opener from the spot 10 minutes in, were enough to cancel out goals from Guy Branston and Chris Swailes.
Afterwards Paul Merson hinted he would put his retirement on hold, saying: "I will go away with my lovely wife and think about it but I think it would be silly not to come back for one more year. It's an honour - look at those fans, they are different class. I feel very honoured. As (Wolves manager) Dave Jones says, anybody beats anybody in this division but we have been the most consistent and that was the difference."
Filed by Johnny Proby