Adams rues luck but keeps his cool

TONY ADAMS insists he will get results from his crowd-pleasing Portsmouth team even though the new manager’s luck remained as wretched as the weather which enveloped the south coast on Saturday.

Pompey earned plaudits for their performance in drawing against Fulham in the immediate aftermath of Harry Redknapp’s shock departure last week and were stung by a late goal at Liverpool.

They responded with an excellent performance here but, despite their superiority, Adams found fortune against him again as Emile Heskey fired the Latics to a last-gasp win.

“I don’t want to be known for being a manager who is entertaining but doesn’t get results,” said Adams, who hopes to appoint his former Arsenal colleague Martin Keown to his backroom staff this week.

“That’s my imprint at the moment. I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve the run of luck we’ve had so early in my managerial career, but I do know the response from the players has been first class. I hate it when I see good players not getting the results they deserve. It’s something we have to put right.

“Hopefully I won’t still be saying all this in 20 games’ time when we are bottom of the league — but I’m not resigning yet.”

Wigan’s Egyptian striker Amr Zaki regained his scoring touch with a penalty just before half-time, although TV replays suggested Pompey’s Pape Bouba Diop was unlucky to have been adjudged to have fouled Titus Bramble.

Pompey hit the woodwork four times through Peter Crouch (twice), Diop and Glen Johnson while Wigan’s Emmerson Boyce and Wilson Palacios cleared from the line before the hosts broke through.

The goal came from substitute Niko Kranjcar, his firm shot in the 82nd minute seemingly rescuing a point only for Pompey to be punished late on by Heskey.

Steve Bruce, the Wigan manager, was relieved to end a dismal run of form that had seen the Latics drop into the bottom three.

“I was looking for a response from the players after what we’ve had the last month and I was delighted with them,” he said.

PORTSMOUTH (4-4-2): James 7, Johnson 7, Campbell 6, Distin 6, Belhadj 5 (Pamarot 90, 5), Diop 5 (Utaka 73, 5), Diarra 7, Davis 6, A Traore 4 (Kranjcar 46, 6), Crouch 6, Defoe 7.

Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Kaboul, Hughes, Kanu. Goals: Kranjcar 82.

WIGAN (4-4-2): Kirkland 7, Melchiot 7, Bramble 8, Boyce 7, Figueroa 6, Valencia 5, Palacios 6, Cattermole 6, Koumas 6, Heskey 7, Zaki 7 (Camara 89, 5).

Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Taylor, Scharner, Kilbane, Brown, De Ridder.

REFEREE: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire) 6: Penalty looked rather harsh but sound otherwise.

MATCH RATING: *** Pompey played well, despite the dreadful conditions.