Adams: 'Fans deserve more'

Portsmouth manager Tony Adams believes his struggling team owe the club’s fans a victory over West Ham tomorrow.

Pompey have recorded just two victories from their last 10 Barclays Premier League games and also made an early exit from the UEFA Cup.

The Pompey boss was left shell-shocked by the way his side started their 2-1 defeat at Bolton last Saturday as they conceded two goals inside a shambolic opening three minutes.

But after seeing the supporters stand by the players, Adams is more determined than ever to deliver them some festive cheer.

He said: “It was very disappointing last week at Bolton and we need to try to put that right, but I thought our fans were magnificent with the way they cheered the team.

“I cannot lie to them, they saw for themselves how badly we started the game against Bolton and it would be wrong of the manager to say anything different.

“I am looking for a reaction. I am looking for a bit of spirit and a positive result against West Ham.”

Adams is also aiming to restore the heart to his Portsmouth team following the departures of key midfielder Pedro Mendes, Sulley Muntari and Lassana Diarra.

Adams has watched in anguish as three of the four midfield players which started the 1-0 FA Cup final win over Cardiff have been sold in the space of just seven months, bringing in £34million pounds worth of transfer fees.

The Pompey boss insists he has money available to spend in the transfer window with Middlesbrough’s Gary O’Neil and Fiorentina defender Manuel Da Costa on his short-list – but attributes his side’s downturn in form to the loss of the trio.

Adams, whose side have shipped 15 goals in their last eight games, said: “The change of personnel does not help. The midfield from the FA Cup final has been pretty much ripped out.

“Pedro, Sulley and now Lassie have gone and that is the heart of your team and your protection for the defence. If you ripped them out of any squad they would struggle.

“But I will pick up the pieces, work with the lads here and try to get some results.

“I feel we have struggled with the balance of the squad all season, irrespective of who we have sold and I have been constantly looking for areas to strengthen.

“I would love to play the same XI week in, week out at the moment but that is not the case. I have not played the same team since I have been here and I would like to.

“I would love to have a settled back four, absolutely, the last clean sheet was against West Ham and we need to keep working.

“A settled midfield as well, that is just as important. At the moment though it is not happening.”