Hart bemoans defensive errors

Pompey manager remaining positive despite defeat

By Hayley Paterson   Last updated: 9th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

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Portsmouth boss Paul Hart was disappointed with his side's inability to deal with Blackburn's set-pieces which led to two goals and another defeat.

The Pompey chief was unhappy to see his players concede an early lead after second-half substitute Jason Roberts cancelled out Jamie O'Hara's opener for the away side from a corner.

Following the equaliser, Rovers looked rampant and soon made it 2-1 after Ryan Nelsen headed home a David Dunn corner.

Hart said: "If you don't defend set pieces against Blackburn you are really in trouble, but we had defended them magnificently in the first half and played well.

"We were in control and they had put us in no real trouble. I don't think we've been undone by any great genius, we've been done on set pieces."

Controversial

Hart was also unhappy over a controversial first-half incident in which Pascal Chimbonda got away with a booking despite appearing to strike goalscorer O'Hara after a tussle on the ball.

"I couldn't understand how Jamie got booked as well. He was certainly pushed in the face and we've seen recently if you do that you walk," said Hart.

"It was a pretty serious offence I would have thought."

Roberts put the game to rest late in the second-half when he combined with fellow substitute Benni McCarthy to fire home from close range for 3-1 and the three points.

Despite the setback, which sees Portsmouth firmly rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table, Hart insisted he would continue to look on the positive side and believes Pompey head into the international break in much better shape than at the start of the season.

He added: "We've made a lot of progress. I think the problems we had in the summer were well documented.

"This is a setback but we're used to picking ourselves up and we'll do it again."

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