Adams to keep faith with ‘fantastic’ Defoe despite goal drought

JERMAIN DEFOE’S missed penalty against his old club proved costly as West Ham romped to a vital win at Portsmouth to ease the pressure on manager Gianfranco Zola.

Defoe had the chance to put Pompey ahead on the stroke of half-time but fired wide, allowing West Ham to capitalise with second-half goals from Craig Bellamy, who netted twice, and Carlton Cole.

Nadir Belhadj had earlier given Portsmouth an early lead, but Jack Collison equalised to send the Hammers on their way to only their second win in 13 league games.

It was a third straight defeat for Portsmouth boss Tony Adams, and only victory at his former club Arsenal tomorrow will prevent the wolves creeping to his door.

But Adams refused to blame Defoe, who missed a penalty on the stroke of half-time which would have put Pompey 2-1 up.

The striker has now gone seven games without scoring and Adams added: “He’s gone a few games now and needs a goal. It doesn’t help when you miss penalties. He needs a goal.

“But he’s a fantastic goalscorer and I’ll keep faith in him. He always does something or creates a chance out of nothing.”

Meanwhile, West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola reiterated his desire to keep hold of Craig Bellamy in the transfer window after the striker’s two goals.

Bellamy’s future with the Hammers has been shrouded in uncertainty of late, with Tottenham reported to have made a bid, and although such a sale would help ease the club’s well-documented financial woes, Zola insisted he wants him to stay.

“He scored two very important goals for us and hopefully he’ll keep scoring goals for us,” said the former Chelsea forward.

“There’s so much speculation but, as far as I’m concerned, he’s our player. It’s as simple as that. He’s a very important player and is enjoying a very good moment.

“The club knows I don’t want to sell Bellamy and we have had a total understanding right from the start.

“With all the talking around him, another player might have been affected. But he’s a professional and is very good. Everything he does is spot on. For me, I think he can be even better than he was today.”

Jack Collison and Carlton Cole also scored in the much-needed victory, only their second in 13 league games.

Having been a point and a place above the relegation zone heading into this fixture, Zola was delighted with three vital points: “We deserved to win today, even though it was a very close game.”

PORTSMOUTH: James, Wilson, Campbell, Distin, Belhadj, Little, Davis, Hughes, Kranjcar, Crouch, Defoe.

Subs: A Traore for Little (71), Kanu for Defoe (73).

WEST HAM: Green, Neill, Davenport, Upson, Ilunga, Collison, Noble, Parker, Behrami, Cole, Bellamy.

Subs: Faubert for Neill (46), Boa Morte for Noble (73), Tristan for Cole (87).

Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent).