Bolton 2 - Pompey 1
Tony Adams had better don his breathing apparatus and plug in his hose.
There are fires breaking out everywhere at Fratton Park these days.
And if he's to save what he's inherited, it's vital he extinguishes them all.
Bolton was not merely a defeat and the surrender of a potential three points during an abject display.
It was confirmation of a general malaise at Pompey which is threatening to undermine all the good work put in during the past three seasons.
Yes, it really is that serious.
Shambolic defending, key players consistently underperforming, the glaring absence of creativity, it was all there at the Reebok Stadium.
Not just one problem, several, and forming the backdrop is the ongoing instability caused by takeover uncertainty.
To make matters even more critical, the transfer window opens in eight days, with a host of star names tipped to exit.
Granted, talk of Pompey departures to follow the anticipated exit of Lassana Diarra are nothing but gossip, rumours and hearsay.
But you can't help wondering where the next fire is going to start.
Even the late Red Adair would have had his hands full at getting this one under his control.
On Saturday, the Blues really were that bad at Bolton, two goals in the opening 167 seconds of the match sealing their fate.
There was to be no coming back and suddenly things are getting rather hot in Adams' world.
Pompey currently find themselves five points off the relegation zone.
In a classic glass-is-half-full moment, they are also four points off sixth spot.
Yet the overwhelming feeling is they should be looking down rather than up considering the club's present precarious climate.
Make no mistake, though, this slump has not been exclusive to Pompey's recently-appointed boss.
Since the Blues booked their place in the FA Cup final last season, they have won just seven of their subsequent 24 league games.
That's 27 points from a possible 72 – with 11 defeats along the way.
Incidentally, a certain Harry Redknapp was in charge for more than half of those matches.
There have been deep-seated problems with the squad that Harry built for a little while, it's only now the flaws are being so glaringly exposed.
The instigator of the Bolton downfall was another woeful defensive showing, yet across the team there are concerns which need addressing as a course of urgency.
Perhaps even more worrying for Adams, not all of them can be solved by spending big during the January transfer window.
Admittedly, his first port of call next month will be to add creativity to the centre of midfield.
He lacks a player equipped with a vast range of passing ability, somebody who can drive forwards with the ball at his feet and weigh in with goals.
At this moment in time there is not a single person in the squad built to perform such a role.
Yet for all the players he needs to sign, many of his existing band are performing well below their lofty potential.
Sylvain Distin is a shadow of his usual self at present, with errors starting to creep into his normally immaculate game at an alarming rate.
The 31-year-old has often spoke of the punishing schedule European football created on the players and he, more than most, seems to be hindered by it.
Then there's David James, another riding an alarming dip in form.
Suddenly brilliant has become just good and for a proud man – which the England keeper undoubtedly is – it's not acceptable.
Why the second half at the Reebok Stadium almost threw up another Wolfsburg howler when the veteran horrendously mis-kicked Noe Pamarot's back pass.
Only a dramatic last-ditch slide tackle from James prevented Johan Elmander taking advantage and on this occasion his blushes were spared.
At the other end of the field, Jermain Defoe is carrying the haunted look of a frustrated figure unable to produce his best.
While strike partner Peter Crouch now has 12 goals to his name, the out-of-sorts Defoe is struggling, his body language suggesting all is not well.
Sol Campbell is also currently failing to live up to past glories and against Kevin Davies on Saturday he was given a torrid examination. Bolton's former Southampton striker was unquestionably the best player on the park, wreaking havoc at every turn with unstoppable power and strength.
He set the tone for the match with a hand – or rather head – in the opening goal after 50 seconds and from that moment on the visitors were on the back foot.
Jlloyd Samuel's lofted ball from the left was flicked on by Davis, rising far above Distin's challenge, and Matt Taylor juggled the ball over the head of Hermann Hreidarsson before half-volleying home.
It was a superb piece of skill from the former Pompey favourite who, on this occasion, was asked by Bolton to play on the right-hand side of midfield and was superb.
Taylor was involved in the second goal too before three minutes were up, heading another deep cross back in front of goal and Ricardo Gardner sent a right-foot volley past James.
In truth, the hosts could have grabbed another couple in those opening nine minutes, James saving from Elmander at the second attempt and Gretar Steinsson flashing a cross which agonisingly eluded his team mates.
At least Pompey pulled one back when Crouch headed home Niko Kranjcar's magnificent cross from the left on 20 minutes.
That rallied Adams' troops with Jussi Jaaskelainen pushing a Kranjcar effort around the post, although at the other end James and a last-ditch Hreidarsson block had to deny Gardner and Taylor.
After the break Defoe had a couple of opportunist attempts which flashed wide while Diarra was introduced into the side, not that it helped galvanize the Blues.
Bolton continued to dominate and should have added to their tally against the wilting visitors.
It sets up an intriguing Fratton Park clash against West Ham on Boxing Day, a team currently in the relegation zone.
How Pompey need to win and how Adams needs to somehow put out those fires.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Portsmouth
Tuesday 22 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 14 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North west
