IT was so close to being a vital three points for the Potters, but it also could have been none.

Portsmouth probably didn’t deserve their 1-0 lead, but for once the luck was with Stoke when we got the penalty.

It did not strike Glen Johnson’s arm, but anyone who watched the highlights will have seen at least one view where it appeared to do just that.

Why the hell Johnson was doing his Marcel Marceau bit with his right arm I have no idea, but it clearly gave the ref the impression that he’d handled the ball.

Up stepped Beattie despite a long delay to put us back in the match and when – glory be – an overlapping full back, Andy Wilkinson crossed to help create the second goal, it could have been dream time.

A late own goal prevented us catching Pompey on points and we have to be disappointed not to have done that. These are the kind of games we need to be winning.

But you look at our team and the state of some of the other teams in this league and there is room for cautious optimism.

Four goals in five games for Beattie must give our fans hope. He’s providing us with the chance to win games and could yet prove the most inspired signing of the season.

With Lawrence back and Etherington not far away, we could have the most balanced side we’ve had yet in a couple of weeks.

By contrast West Brom look like a relegated team to me – they won’t give up but I can’t see them mustering the goals and the points they’ll need.

Watching Gareth Southgate on Match Of The Day I felt like he was a bloke who knows the game is up but cannot bring himself to admit it. Middlesbrough are in trouble and there fans know it.

Newcastle and Portsmouth are still far from safe, both effectively being run by temporary managers and failing to pull themselves away from danger.

With Blackburn also stuck in the mire, Stoke are one of six sides currently in danger.

And for all their early season form, Hull are not yet safe from the drop.

We can only ask for a dogged performance and a little more ambition in our next away match, at Aston Villa.

A win is probably too much to ask for, but we are far from doomed.