Nigel Pearson prasied his Hull City players and Robert Koren after his goal gave City their third win in a row against Portsmouth.
Tigers boss pleased with a third straight clean sheet
Hull City boss Nigel Pearson praised his players and Robert Koren after his goal gave City their third win in a row against a Portsmouth side who saw Luke Varney sent off.
The hosts doubled their goals-for tally in home league matches this season thanks to the Slovenian's stunning long-range effort after just 11 minutes from 25 yards.
And it could have been more had keeper Jamie Ashdown not produced a superb performance to keep Hull at bay.
Flattered
"If we had won by three or four goals I don't think it would have flattered us," Pearson said after watching his side seal a third 1-0 win in a row.
"We were by far the better side and the players were fabulous. It was just what we were looking for.
"The tempo from start to finish was good and their keeper pulled off a couple of very good saves. In spells it was one of our best performances of the season.
"I'm very pleased with a third straight clean sheet and how the back five performed, but really it's about the team performance.
"We have a young side and I've always had a lot of faith in our team, and the players should receive a lot of credit for that performance."
Not convinced
Pompey failed to win for a fourth consecutive game, and manager Steve Cotterill saw any faint hopes of a comeback disappear with Luke Varney's red card 12 minutes from time after a late tackle on James Chester, which he deemed as 'harsh'.
"I thought Luke got a bit of a nudge just before the tackle and maybe it was a booking, but I'm not convinced it was a red card," Cotterill said.
"The guy jumped up straight away and was alright. Luke did catch him but it wasn't with a straight leg and he wasn't showing his studs.
"I do think that's the way things are going at the moment and we are being punished for every mistake.
"It was a disappointing performance in the first half, and although we were better in the second I don't think we worked their goalkeeper enough to get a result.
"We had a good following again and the changing room is desperately disappointed with that first-half performance."
