Midfield has to step it up
Sean Davis watched Jermain Defoe thwarted by a fine goalkeeping performance but insisted: We need to help our strikers more.
The combative Pompey midfielder turned in an outstanding display – particularly as the Blues lost influential star Lassana Diarra early in their 0-0 draw with West Ham.
But while Davis made a succession of important defensive contributions and kept possession ticking along, it was left to the luckless Defoe to carry a one-man threat on Robert Green's goal.
Davis, however, believes Pompey need to ease the burden on Defoe and partner Peter Crouch and start chipping in with goals. Davis said: 'We need to start scoring a few from midfield, but it was quite hard to get forward from the centre for me.
'When you've got the likes of Armand Traore and Nadir Belhadj out wide, you can't go forward too much as you want to hold and keep the shape.
'Getting goals has not really been a fort for me anyway.
'Of course, it's always nice to score a goal, but it was more important to keep the shape and the discipline to protect the back four.'
Defoe had three clear-cut openings to put Pompey in the driving seat but was unlucky to see the Hammers keeper in such fine form.
Davis, however, insists there is no blame attached to his team-mate.
He said: 'Jermain is a goalscorer and he thrives on scoring goals.
'He's obviously disappointed he hasn't scored, but I'm pleased with him.
'He worked hard for us and he got into the positions to score the goals.
'If he's not getting into the positions, that's when you start worrying.
'Rob Green made four or five world class saves so you have to give him credit.
'On another day, Jermain scores at least one of those chances and we could have nicked it 1-0, but we will take a clean sheet away from home.'
The former Fulham and Tottenham midfielder took greater responsibility in midfield when Diarra limped off with Papa Bouba Diop (below) moving alongside him, substitute Traore playing wide left and Belhadj patrolling the opposite flank.
And Davis admitted he was pleased with the way Pompey had coped with the loss of the French midfielder.
Davis said: 'It was a shame that Lass had to come off because he's such a good player, but Papa came in off the right and did well in the middle.
'If you ask him, he will tell you it's his favourite position.
'It was a good transition with Armand coming on because he always poses a threat with his pace but I thought we coped well.'
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Weather for Portsmouth
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 15 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: East
