Adams on first win & more/Defoe not to be put off

Tony Adams finally gained his first win as Pompey manager - and he deserves it! - after our win at Sunderland yesterday. Ironically though as he told Sky Sports the win saw us give our worst performance under him: 'probably out of the four games I've been in charge it was probably our worst performance.

'First-half I thought we turned the ball over very poorly and kept giving it away., second-half we did a little bit better. But we played better against Fulham, Liverpool and Wigan and I suppose, as they say, that's football.

'We've hit the bar four times last weekend and had two cleared off the line, so I haven't got a clue how this game works!'

Having been at all the games that he had been in charge of - prior to this one - I think it is fair to say that we have deserved more than the 1pt from the 9 we got, but winning 'ugly' is something that you need, and although we again played some good football at times it was good to see that we were able to dig in, roll up our sleeves and get the job done.

Adams also once again pointed out that he has received great backing from the players since taking over, and despite things looking a little ropey in the 1st half - as far as all pulling in the right direction was concerned - he was again delighted with the response he got: 'I've had a fantastic response from the lads... that scares me really because usually there are some people that don't like me or react badly!

'Since I've been here in the four games I'm delighted with them, I really am, and I think they're delighted with me so that's the main thing and everyone's pulling together and that's important.'

I am delighted, not only obviously because we picked up a much needed win, but delighted for Adams who has had a tough time so far without actually doing anything wrong really! This win was not only needed for us, but for him too and 'should' give us all a lift...

Lets just hope that we can take this win forward and get a good run going. As I had said prior to Wigan we have a good run of games coming up where plenty of points can be gained, defeat against Wigan was not in my script but we have got back to this now!

The blow of Joe Jordan leaving on Friday was a big blow to Adams, and again us, which was something that we could have definitely done without - I will not talk about his reasons for going really, although I will say I am both understanding but more than a little disappointed having now heard these reasons - but putting his own men is place is something that he will be doing this week.

Speculation has 'linked' all manor of former Arsenal teammates to roles, but Adams maintains that his way of doing things discreetly is the way he will carry on so would not be drawn on this speculation, but did say he had found the men he wants: 'I like to go about these things discreetly and correctly, and I want to get the right people in.

'I think I've found them and they can go on and get my team sorted out.'

I can deal with discreetly - it sounds good to me and is a good way to go about things!

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Whereas the injury time goalscoring hero Jermain Defoe has told the Pompey Site how his mate Anton Ferdinand tried to put him off as he took the winning penalty - but that was not going to work: 'Anton came up to me and said I was going to miss. He gave me a little bit of banter.

'But I didn't listen. You've got to be confident when you take a penalty - if you think you might miss, you probably will.

'As I stepped up to take the penalty I thought about the last one I had, against Spurs, which I scored. So I was confident.'

The win was something that he, along with all of us, was pleased to gain for Tony Adams as he also believes that he deserves this for the effort he has put in so far for little reward: 'Sunderland were maybe the better team in the first half. They're a strong side with a strong manager in Roy Keane. But in the second half we dominated and deserved the three points. We stuck together.

'We had a great week in training, working on the shape and movement of the team. The things Tony Adams has done in training have been really good.

'There have been massive changes at the club and I'm really pleased for Tony that we won.'

Hopefully this goal will also do Defoe some good, as he has looked like he has needed it! He has not looked on form recently, although to be fair this was the case before Harry Redknapp went so I do not think that his going has caused this anymore than it already was, ok maybe a touch more.

You never know what is going to happen, but I would like to think that his thoughts are not on leaving the club - and seeing his celebrations, and something that he said to the fans when he scored, quite what is was I do not know, makes me more optimistic that his recent form has been down to a loss of it, as opposed to his head being elsewhere...

PLAY UP POMPEY!

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