Pompey crimes

Writing my match report in the early hours, the only crumb of comfort (apart from watching Warwickshire's Tim Ambrose on his way to a maiden Test century, surely, in New Zealand) was that encourgaing signs are there, and what needs to be addressed is clear.

Knowing Alex McLeish, he will continue to drill the players on the fields of Wast Hills in set piece defending and general diligence, whilst also preaching the positive.

But once match time comes, he can hardly go on himself and head away balls or clear the lines properly like he used to do in his Aberdeen heyday.

Liam Ridgewell is copping plenty of stick at present and unfortunately he does seem to be a magnet for misfortune.

Nobody can question his heart and desire, but he has to cut out costly errors.

Portsmouth were good, but not that good. Blues made their task much easier than it should have been.

Coming back from 2-0 down, Blues showed bottle, ability and desire.

Fabrice Muamba's confidence levels shot off the scale after his first senior goal, and Sebastian Larsson has that Beckhamesque quality at free-kicks.

But Portsmouth scored again within four minutes of the second-half getting underway and Maik Taylor admitted to the dressing room that he should have come to take Sulley Muntari's deep free-kick from the right that dropped to the edge of the six-yard box.

Blues ended up chasing the game, and they gave a good chase. The finishing line was just beyond them however.

Now it's Newcastle United at St Andrew's and what an evening that should be on Monday.

They are without a win in 12 Premier League matches and the psychological advantage of victory, for either side, would be massive.