Jermaine vows to get better
Jermaine Pennant admits he was delighted to be back in first-team football, despite the disappointment of a debut defeat.
The on-loan Liverpool winger showed plenty of promise for his new club – especially in the second half as he switched from a central role to return to his more favoured position on the right flank to deliver a succession of inviting crosses.
But Pennant insists he will improve with more games under his belt to improve his sharpness after last playing first-team football for Liverpool way back in October.
Pennant said: 'I felt it a bit in the last 20 minutes having not played for quite a long time.
'But the more games I play, I'm sure I can get that fitness back up, get my sharpness and do better.
'It was great to be playing again to have the fans behind me and be out in that atmosphere again.
'But it was a disappointing debut because we lost.
'Hopefully I can have a better debut in the Premier League.'
The 26-year-old admitted he was far happier in his more natural position, but saw his hopes of a debut goal thwarted by Swansea goalkeeper Dimitrios Konstantopoulos.
Pennant said: 'I preferred it on the right because it meant I could get more crosses in to Crouchie and Kanu when he came on.
'The height in there made it a lot easier for me.
'But the keeper made some great saves.
'He made one from me and one from Sean Davis as well.
'We had a lot of opportunities to get the game back to level, but all credit to the keeper and to Swansea.
'We can't dwell on it too much, though.
'We've got important games coming up.'
Pennant also admitted he had been impressed by Swansea's performance as they outplayed Pompey in the first half.
He said: 'I was very surprised.
'I don't know where they are in the Championship, but it must be near the top.
'I don't think they could ever play a better game than that.
'They popped the ball about and I didn't see any long balls from them at all.'
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Weather for Portsmouth
Thursday 23 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 13 C
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