TOM'S ROCKET HELPS NAYL SORRY POSH!

Gallen salutes fantastic win over rivals

- Alex Crook

JOE GALLEN, the Portsmouth assistant-manager, praised the 2,000 returning fans who cheered their team to a comprehensive victory over fellow promotion contenders Peterborough United.

Second-half goals from Jack Whatmough and captain Tom Naylor – a long-range stunner – helped Pompey leapfrog visitors Peterborough in the table.

Gallen said: “It was an excellent afternoon, beating a team above us in the league and I thought it was a convincing win.

“The fans coming back made a huge difference, they were fantastic and it looked and felt like more than 2,000.

“It shows we have missed them at home because in the second half we were well on top.

“Just having them back prior to the game, in the warm-up, giving them a clap and acknowledging them was great.

“If that is 2,000 then we want the 18,000 back. I have always said they are the best fans in the country and undoubtedly they helped us because that was our best second half of the season”