Boss says back-line need a confidence boost
Pompey have conceded 11 goals in their last four games following defeat against Scunthorpe.
David Syers scored twice as the Iron recovered from Tom Craddock’s opener to secure victory at Fratton Park.
The hosts looked bright going forward at times, with Ricky Holmes and Craddock both hitting the woodwork, while Johnny Ertl was denied by a stunning Sam Slocombe save.
But Guy Whittingham knows that they have to shore up defensive if they want to arrest their poor form.
The Blues boss said: “It was obviously a disappointing result for us. In the first half we scored a decent goal following some good football, but then conceded from a set-play.
“We started the second half brightly and played some excellent stuff. We hit the post a couple of times, but we’re not as confident defensively as we are going forward. That’s something we have to address.
“Scunthorpe will probably think they deserved the win, while we think we should have got something from the game.
“It wasn’t a performance that was lacklustre. We plugged away and had some good movement.
“I thought their goalkeeper made the best save of the game, although Trevor Carson made some good ones as well.
“We’ve always said that it will take time, but we’ll work hard to get organised. Teams come here and raise their game, so we need to be more solid at home.
“We don’t want to dwell on defeats, so it’s good that we’ve got another game on Tuesday to try to put things right.”
Craddock played up front by himself in his full league debut, while loan signing Dan Potts came in at left-back.
Whittingham said: “Patrick Agyemang wasn’t available, while Ryan Bird hasn’t trained all week because of concussion and David Connolly is still coming back from injury, but it was pleasing for Tom to get his first goal.
“Dan came in because he gives us that balance we need and you can see he’s a good footballer.”