Defender warns Portsmouth over long-ball approach after Fleetwood frustration
Cameron Pring believes Pompey have to learn long-ball lessons after being frustrated by Fleetwood.
The left-back felt the Blues were too quick to take a direct approach to breaking down Joey Barton’s side, after being held to a 0-0 draw at Fratton Park.
It proved a high-tempo and lively first 45 minutes as the two sides went head to head in a fast-paced affair with fans back under the lights.
The second half was about Kenny Jackett’s trying to push on and take a victory which would have seen them move to the top of the table as Fleetwood sat in.
Despite dominating possession Pompey couldn’t carve out a great deal in clearcut chances, with Marcus Harness firing narrowly wide with five minutes left the best of it.
Pring felt the Blues, himself included, gave in to the temptation to get the ball forward quickly, with the Cod Army limiting space at the back with bodies behind the ball.
He said: ‘It was a good test.
‘It is a bit of a tough one when they come here and just want to make is scrappy.
‘In the second half it didn’t really feel like they wanted to go for the win.
‘It’s a tough one, but I don’t feel we adapted to how they came and set up by just sitting back.
‘We had to try and break them down and I felt we played a bit too much long ball, me personally.
‘It’s hard when they counter-attack you and you get it so deep.
‘It’s something to learn from I think, especially myself.’
Despite missing out on victory, Pompey climbed into the automatic places for the first time in 22 months with a point and their fourth clean sheet on the spin.
But they knew a win would have seen them move up to the summit of the table ahead of the trip to Hull City on Friday.
That’s something the Blues know they can put right, however, on Friday tea-time.
Pring added: ‘All the boys were frustrated by missing out on top.
‘We saw the scores and it was frustrating, but hopefully we can put that right Friday.
‘It’s good that we’re second (after not being in the top two two for 22 months) so it’s on to Hull and hopefully we can keep the run going.’