Whittingham salutes McLeod work-rate

Pompey caretaker boss Guy Whittingham heaped praise on the work-rate of Izale McLeod following his late, late leveller.

The Blues’ leading scorer netted in stoppage-time to grab a 1-1 draw at Coventry and end a run of seven successive defeats.

It capped an eventful week for the 28-year-old, who was involved in two penalties against Leyton Orient and was the target of racist abuse from a Blues fan on Twitter.

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At the Ricoh Arena on Saturday, at times McLeod was asked to play a different role, serving wide on the left.

Yet he turned in a hard-working and goal-scoring display.

And Whittingham was full of admiration for his attitude.

He said: ‘I am so pleased for Izale.

‘He is somebody who puts himself up to get shot down.

‘He will keep going, though, he has great confidence and is a great character.

‘Out of all the 11 out there the chance may have fallen to, I would sooner it fell to Izale.

‘But how hard he worked was just as pleasing as much as anything else – as much as his goal.

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‘When we changed shape there was no argument from him, he didn’t look frustrated, he got on with the job and I thought did it really well.

‘It was a 4-3-3 with him on the left, mainly because we knew Cyrus Christie would be a threat to us down that side.

‘It was pleasing because he tracked back really well. It just goes to prove he does it – and away from home you need it.’

– NEIL ALLEN