Redknapp hopes to maintain momentum

Harry Redknapp feels things are coming together for Portsmouth just at the right time, but knows there is still plenty of hard work ahead.

Relegation battlers Pompey extended their unbeaten Barclays Premiership run to five games after they came from behind to secure a 1-1 draw with Arsenal at Fratton Park.

As well as denting the Gunners’ Champions League hopes, last night’s point moved the south coast club level with fourth-bottom Birmingham.

Although they have an inferior goal difference to their rivals in the race for survival, the momentum is very much with Redknapp’s men.

It is a scenario which looked unlikely at the turn of the year but with another home game to come against FA Cup semi-finalists Middlesbrough this weekend, there is every reason to be positive for the Pompey faithful, who were again in full voice last night.

“We are playing well,” reflected Redknapp, who returned to Fratton Park in December with a brief to recapture former glories just over a year after he quit for arch-rivals Southampton.

“I think the players have settled in and have got to know each other. It takes time.

“It was not that we were playing badly before. We drew here with Bolton, and had played ever so well, Manchester United hit us on the break and then in the second half we came back at them.

“Now, the results have started to come, the confidence has come at the right time.

“It has given us a chance, but it is still going to be tight.”

Lomana LuaLua netted his fourth goal in four games when he flashed a header past Jens Lehmann after 66 minutes, making Arsenal pay for a number of missed chances to extend the lead earned by Thierry Henry’s 28th goal of the season.

The Democratic Republic of Congo international picked up an ankle injury during the build-up to his goal, which came from a fine free-kick delivery by Andres D’Alessandro on the right.

Redknapp said: “He damaged his ankle jumping up to head the ball, yet he still did the treble somersault with pike, then realised he had a bad ankle.

“I think he is okay. He is a one-off and is a law unto himself.”

Arsenal’s failure to secure victory leaves them trailing Tottenham by four points in the race to finish in the Champions League places.

The Gunners, of course, could still yet win Europe’s elite club competition this season, with Spanish side Villarreal awaiting them in the semi-finals.

With the final north London derby at Highbury on April 22 fast approaching, Arsene Wenger’s men could yet turn things around.

Redknapp commented: “They have got it to do now, and it is going to be hard because they have to win all their games.”

For Pompey, though, destiny is very much in their own hands.

“We have only got three home games left and have to keep going,” Redknapp said.

“They will be massive games, and if we can pick up good home points, then we have got a chance.

“Middlesbrough is a big, big game for us now but whoever comes here we will give them a game.”