Pompey lacking a Fuller figure

Alam Khan

• Last Updated: November 23. 2009 9:17PM UAE / November 23. 2009 5:17PM GMT

The next time Portsmouth face a former striker, Paul Hart would be wise to pay special attention to them.

Jason Roberts, a former Pompey loan player, inspired a comeback win for Blackburn Rovers with two goals last weekend.

On Sunday it was Ricardo Fuller who consigned Portsmouth to a 10th defeat in 13 league games.

The Stoke forward said he had a good feeling that he would score his first league goal of this season against the Fratton Park club for whom he managed just one strike in almost a year.

Pompey coach Hart was rightly aggrieved after the 1-0 loss. Just like the Blackburn trip, his players deserved more for their enterprise and pursuit of victory. With Michael Brown and Jamie O’Hara diligent in midfield, what they lack is a player like Fuller up front to turn possession into goals.

Performances do not matter, points do. They still remain three adrift of Wolves at the foot of the table.

“It’s very hard to be critical of my players. Through thick and thin they’ve tried to win matches. The defeat does not tell the full story,” said Hart. It might have been a happier ending for him had Kevin-Prince Boateng converted an eighth-minute penalty after Aruna Dindane was kicked in the head by Rory Delap.

But the midfielder lacked conviction and his weak effort was easily saved by Thomas Sorensen. Hermann Hreidarsson, the veteran defender, cursed Pompey’s fortune but said they will remain faithful to their attacking instincts when Manchester United visit on Saturday.

“We‘ll have a go at them. If we keep playing like this we will pick up more points,” he said.

Stoke are now ninth in the table. Their 74th-minute winner was superb and showed they have more to offer than a direct approach.

Matthew Etherington was the instigator of a slick passing move, linking with Dean Whitehead before setting up Fuller for a neat turn and low drive past Jamie Ashdown – a late starter after David James hurt a calf in the warm up.

“It was a quality goal, a quality move and a quality finish,” said his manager Tony Pulis.

He had Tuncay primed to replace Fuller just before he scored, but the talented Turk may have to bide his time for a start.



akhan@thenational.ae