PORTSMOUTH FOOTBALL CLUB

Andy Awford has demanded a reaction from his players following their humbling at Bury.

The defeat at Gigg Lane represented a first loss in six games for Pompey.

And they have a chance to return to winning ways when Stevenage visit Fratton Park on Tuesday night.

But Awford is frustrated by a lack of both goals and victories in recent weeks and is searching for a vastly improved display from His troops.

The Blues boss said: “There’s no point dressing it up – we weren’t good enough on Saturday and I’m looking for a reaction.

“I’ve left the players with no doubt about what I want them to do and their roles and responsibilities within the team.

“There will be changes because different personnel in certain areas is required.

“The plain fact is that it’s one win in nine and seven points out of a possible 27.

“I can dress it up as having lost only one in six, but we haven’t been good enough and haven’t scored enough.

“So now it’s time to get back to finding the net and winning football matches again.

“I’ve still got every confidence in the players, but we’re 14th in the league because that’s where we deserve to be.

“I don’t want to be mid-table – I want us to be a lot higher up than that, so do the players and so do the fans.

“We all have to improve and it’s not just the players – I’ll take a lot of responsibility.”

Stevenage currently sit below Pompey on goal difference, but were victorious over Accrington at the weekend.

Awford said: “They’ve had a stuttering start after suffering relegation from League One at the end of last season.

“But I don’t really give a monkeys about Stevenage to be honest – my main focus is on us and what we do. We need to start putting smiles back on people’s faces again.”

Paul Robinson (hip) and Jack Whatmough (hamstring) are both available for selection after returning to training.