The forceful response to Portsmouth players facing brunt of fan criticism as play-off hopes hang in the balance

Pompey’s players don’t deserve the flak they’re facing for the recent downturn in results.
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Danny Cowley feels lambasting the Blues squad for the results which have seen the play-off charge falter of late is unfair.

Fans have focussed their criticism on players of late, after a run of four games without a win has seen Pompey tumble out of the top six.

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Cowley is adamant the squad are doing all they can to take on board his principles, and the recent run has nothing to do with a lack of work ethic.

Cowley said: ‘The players are really open-minded and trying. They are working really hard.

‘We have the principles, ideas and patterns - we just want to speed them up.

‘But because we’re quite new to the players, it takes time and it takes rehearsal to get the speed and get the tempo really, really high.

Pompey’s players at MK DonsPompey’s players at MK Dons
Pompey’s players at MK Dons

‘We just haven’t had that, so I’m not blaming them.

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‘It would be absolutely unfair to blame them, because it’s not anyone’s fault other than the circumstances. It’s just the situation we’re in.’

Cowley pointed to a lack of time on the training pitch as a significant factor of late, as they battle to get across their ideas amid an intense schedule.

But the 42-year-old made it clear he’s not forwarding that as an acceptable excuse for not delivering the wins required to extend the season.

The former Huddersfield boss is adamant he can find the solutions to have Pompey ending the campaign on an upward curve, however.

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He added: ‘It’s hard to come in mid-season, especially when we’re in a condensed season like we are now.

‘But we knew this before, so we can’t moan about. We knew it was a risk.

‘It is what it is, so we’re going to do our best and we’re going to find a way. You mark my words - we will find a way.’

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