Skipper looks ahead to Crawley clash
Michael Doyle does not want to offer excuses or explanations.
Pompey’s skipper knows there is only one way to respond to a frustrating Fratton clash with Crewe at the weekend.
Three points at Crawley tonight would send the Blues into the top three and provide the perfect pick-me-up.
And Doyle accepts that fans will voice their discontent if they fail to win for a third successive match.
The midfielder said: “We’ve got to pick ourselves up and go again, although I’m sure people are sick of hearing that now.
“I’m sure there will still be lots of twists and turns, but people are questioning us at the moment and the players have to stand up and answer that criticism.
“We feel it as much as anyone because it’s another opportunity that we’ve let slip and you have to take responsibility.
“You have to take that on the chin and the only talking that you can do is out there on the pitch.
“There have been a few disappointments throughout the season, but we’re in a great position if we beat Crawley.”
Doyle is not sure how the hosts will approach the game, but is more concerned with Pompey’s performance.
He said: “It was a really difficult game down there last season when they got everyone behind the ball and got applauded off for taking a point.
“At the start of this campaign they tried to come out and play against us, but we had a lot of success.
“So I don’t know what way they’re going to go this time around, although the most important thing is what we do.
“If we play well – as we saw at Carlisle – then the majority of the time we’ll pick up a positive result.”