Boss slams defensive errors at Wimbledon
Pompey were itching to get back to league action following successive cup losses.
But there was no change of fortune as the Blues slumped to a heavy 4-0 defeat at AFC Wimbledon.
Trevor Carson saved a Harry Pell penalty midway through the first half, but that was as good as it got for the visitors at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.
Andy Frampton’s brace and goals from Sammy Moore and Michael Smith secured a comprehensive triumph for the Dons.
And Guy Whittingham was left seething at the simple defensive errors that handed goals to Pompey’s opponents.
The Blues boss said: “It’s a defeat that really makes you think deeply about how you can put things right.
“We’d been doing very well and then within a week we’ve lost three games. In the first there was plenty of effort and commitment, but that’s been lacking in the last two.
“Now we have to look at going back to basics because we’ve conceded far too many goals.
“There have basic defensive errors – and I’m not just talking about the back four. It’s been the whole team and that’s something we have to put right.
“I thought we played worse in the first half, but then conceded three in the second.
“We came out after the break and played a lot better, but then they scored from a set play. People have their jobs to do and they weren’t done.
“We tried to encourage them to keep playing at 2-0 down, but we got caught out again with a long-distance shot and were then out-muscled again for the fourth.
“Everyone’s emotions are running high after a defeat like that. You can shout all you want, but you have to talk sense and that’s what we tried to do.
“It’s very hurtful, it’s not good enough and we have to do something about it. The only way to turn things around is through hard work on the training pitch.”
Pompey were also dealt two injury blows with Patrick Agyemang and his replacement Ryan Bird both forced off.
Whittingham said: “Ryan was knocked out and we weren’t going to take any risks, while Pat hurt his thigh and that disrupted quite us a bit.”