Midfielder happy with cup display
Pompey could perhaps have been forgiven for changing their philosophy at Ipswich.
Paul Cook has insisted that his side play an attractive passing game since arriving on the south coast last summer.
But travelling to a promotion-chasing Championship side in the third round of the Emirates FA Cup provided a stern challenge.
The Blues stuck to their attacking guns, however, and were unlucky to come away with just a 2-2 draw.
And stand-in skipper Gary Roberts was delighted that they did not abandon their creative principles at Portman Road.
He said: “We really dominated the game and passed the ball about well – we can be proud of our performance.
“We were able to take a good side like Ipswich all the way and were unlucky not to win.
“We were the underdogs, but were able to enjoy ourselves and I’m sure our fantastic fans did the same.
“The manager wants us to get the ball down and play it – and that’s exactly what we did.
“The best form of defence is attack. That’s our philosophy and that’s what we’ll stick to.
“Ipswich played 4-4-2 and we were able to find gaps and get into those spaces to create a few chances.
“There are always people who want the ball in our side and that makes your job a lot easier.”
Roberts was starting his first game since late October after recovering from an ankle injury.
He said: “It’s been a long couple of months, but I’m back now and I can forget about all of that.
“It was my first start for quite a while and it’s up to me to give the manager a problem when he’s picking the team.
“You’ve got to respect the players in those positions who have been performing really well, so I’ve got to work hard.”