Adams upset at lack of fight
Tony Adams refused to blame the formation for Pompey's FA Cup exit and insisted: It was because we didn't fight.
The Blues manager feels his team were outbattled and outplayed by Championship side Swansea on Saturday – and that is why their defence of the title they gloriously lifted last May has ended in failure.
Adams' men delivered an abject first-half display at Fratton Park, conceding both of the goals in their 2-0 defeat.
That gave them a mountain to climb and they couldn't drag themselves back into the game, despite throwing everything at the visitors.
Adams chose to employ debut-making Jermaine Pennant through the middle on his debut following his move from Liverpool and David Nugent on the right of his lone-striker system.
The move failed to work and Pompey were left chasing shadows against Roberto Martinez's side.
A second-half switch to a 4-4-2 came too late but Adams believes the shape of the side wasn't a key factor in the loss.
He believes a lack of effort in the first 45 minutes was the reason his team crashed out.
Adams said: 'We were outplayed in the first-half.
'I put Jermaine in his proper position on the right in the second half and he created some chances.
'We created seven chances in the second-half and hit the post but we'd given ourselves too much to do.
'David played on the right at Spurs, did well and scored a goal. I also thought Armand Traore did well on the other side.
'We have been doing well playing that way lately.
'Niko has gone down in training so I tried to come up with something. It was a way I thought we could get a result.
'I don't think it was the system though, I thought we were outplayed, outpassed and outfought.
'I could have played any system and we would have gone out because we didn't fight.'
Adams bemoaned Swansea's killer second goal right on the stroke of half-time.
Nadir Belhadj was penalised for bringing down Jordi Lopez and referee Andre Marriner had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
Adams felt the foul was committed outside the box.
The Pompey boss also highlighted Peter Crouch's miss minutes earlier as a crucial factor in the loss.
He said: 'They are telling me it is outside the box and it was a body blow right on the half-time whistle. It was disappointing.
'We had a great chance to equalise. If that had gone in it would have been a different game.'
Adams said the need for reinforcements before the close of the transfer window is becoming more pressing than ever.
Richard Hughes added to his worries when he limped off with a hamstring injury.
Adams said: 'We need some replacements. We are competing with some big clubs who have big finance, though.
'Hughesy has gone down and will be out for three weeks. Niko has gone down as well. We need reinforcements and we will keep trying to get them.'
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Weather for Portsmouth
Thursday 23 February 2012
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