The 1991–92 season marked Portsmouth F.C.'s third consecutive season in the Football League Second Division. Under the management of Jim Smith, who had been appointed in June 1991, the team finished ninth in the league, an improvement of eight places from the previous season, but missed out on the promotion play-offs by five points.
A notable highlight of the season was Portsmouth's run to the FA Cup semi-finals. They faced Liverpool, losing in a penalty shootout after twice drawing with the eventual winners.
Second Division Opposing Team For Against Date VenueBlackburn Rovers 1 1 17 August 1991 Ewood ParkPort Vale 1 0 24 August 1991 Fratton ParkMiddlesbrough 0 1 31 August 1991 Ayresome ParkSunderland 1 0 3 September 1991 Fratton ParkBrighton and Hove Albion 0 0 7 September 1991 Fratton ParkCharlton Athletic 0 3 14 September 1991 The ValleyGrimsby Town 1 1 17 September 1991 Blundell ParkCambridge United 3 0 21 September 1991 Fratton ParkBristol City 2 0 28 September 1991 Ashton GateNewcastle United 3 1 5 October 1991 Fratton ParkBarnsley 0 2 12 October 1991 Oakwell, BarnsleyDerby County 0 2 19 October 1991 Baseball GroundIpswich Town 1 1 26 October 1991 Fratton ParkMillwall 1 1 2 November 1991 The Den, LondonLeicester City 1 0 5 November 1991 Fratton ParkOxford United 2 1 9 November 1991 Fratton ParkSwindon Town 3 2 16 November 1991 County GroundWatford 1 2 23 November 1991 Vicarage RoadWolverhampton Wanderers 1 0 30 November 1991 Fratton ParkSouthend United 1 1 14 December 1991 Fratton ParkSunderland 0 1 21 December 1991 Roker ParkBristol Rovers 2 0 26 December 1991 Fratton ParkMiddlesbrough 4 0 28 December 1991 Fratton ParkPlymouth Argyle 2 3 1 January 1992 Home ParkPort Vale 2 0 11 January 1992 Vale ParkBlackburn Rovers 2 2 18 January 1992 Fratton ParkBristol Rovers 0 1 29 January 1992 Twerton ParkDerby County 0 1 1 February 1992 Fratton ParkPlymouth Argyle 4 1 4 February 1992 Fratton ParkIpswich Town 2 5 8 February 1992 Portman RoadWolverhampton Wanderers 0 0 22 February 1992 MolineuxTranmere Rovers 2 0 29 February 1992 Fratton ParkLeicester City 2 2 11 March 1992 Filbert StreetMillwall 6 1 14 March 1992 Fratton ParkSouthend United 3 2 17 March 1992 Roots HallOxford United 1 2 21 March 1992 Manor GroundSwindon Town 1 1 28 March 1992 Fratton ParkCharlton Athletic 1 2 31 March 1992 Fratton ParkTranmere Rovers 0 2 7 April 1992 Prenton ParkGrimsby Town 2 0 11 April 1992 Fratton ParkCambridge United 2 2 17 April 1992 Abbey StadiumBristol City 1 0 20 April 1992 Fratton ParkWatford 0 0 22 April 1992 Fratton ParkNewcastle United 0 1 25 April 1992 St James' ParkBrighton and Hove Albion 1 2 29 April 1992 Goldstone GroundBarnsley 2 0 2 May 1992 Fratton Park
FA Cup Opposing Team For Against Date Venue RoundExeter City 2 1 4 January 1992 St James Park 3rd RoundLeyton Orient 2 0 25 January 1992 Fratton Park 4th RoundMiddlesbrough 1 1 15 February 1992 Fratton Park 5th RoundMiddlesbrough 4 2 26 February 1992 Ayresome Park 5th Round ReplayNottingham Forest 1 0 26 February 1992 Fratton Park Quarter FinalLiverpool 1 1 5 April 1992 Highbury Semi FinalLiverpool 0 0 13 April 1992 Villa Park Semi Final Replay
Semi Final Line Up
PORTSMOUTH: GK 1 Alan KnightRB 2 Andy AwfordLB 3 John BeresfordCM 4 Alan McLoughlin CB 5 Kit Symons CB 6 Chris BurnsCM 7 Warren NeillCM 8 Martin Kuhl (c)CF 9 Colin ClarkeRW 10 Mark Chamberlain LW 11 Darren AndertonSubstitutes:FW Guy Whittingham MF Warren Aspinall Manager: Jim Smith
LIVERPOOL: GK 1 Bruce GrobbelaarRB 2 Rob Jones LB 3 David Burrows CB 4 Steve NicolCM 5 Ronnie WhelanCB 6 Mark Wright (c)AM 7 Steve McManaman RW 8 Ray Houghton CF 9 Ian RushLW 10 John BarnesCM 11 Michael ThomasSubstitutes: DF 12 Barry Venison MF 14 Mike Marsh Manager: Graeme Souness
Semi Final Line Up Replay
PORTSMOUTH: GK 1 Alan KnightRB 2 Andy AwfordLB 3 John BeresfordCM 4 Alan McLoughlin CB 5 Kit Symons CB 6 Chris BurnsCM 7 Warren NeillCM 8 Martin Kuhl (c)CF 9 Colin Clarke LW 10 Ray DanielRW 11 Darren AndertonSubstitutes:FW Guy Whittingham MF Steve Wigley Manager: Jim Smith
LIVERPOOL: GK 1 Bruce GrobbelaarRB 2 Rob Jones LB 3 David BurrowsCB 4 Steve NicolCM 5 Ronnie Whelan CB 6 Mark Wright (c)CF 7 Dean Saunders CM 8 Jan MølbyCF 9 Ian RushLW 10 John BarnesRW 11 Michael ThomasSubstitutes: MF 12 Mark Walters DF 14 Barry Venison Manager: Graeme Souness
League Cup Opposing Team For Against Date Venue RoundGillingham 2 1 20 August 1991 Fratton Park 1st Round 1st LegGillingham 4 3 27 August 1991 Priestfield Stadium 1st Round 2nd LegOxford United 0 0 24 September 1991 Fratton Park 2nd Round 1st LegOxford United 1 0 9 October 1991 Manor Ground 2nd Round 2nd LegManchester United 1 3 30 October 1991 Old Trafford 3rd Round
Full Members Cup Opposing Team For Against Date Venue RoundPlymouth Argyle 0 1 1 October 1991 Home Park 1st Round
References