Grant reflects on FA cup draw

Once again, as so often is the case these days, Avram Grant's post-match talk focused mostly around the shambles that is the off-the-field state of Portsmouth Football club as opposed to the slightly less shambolic state on it...

Grant admitted to sky sports that constant questions put to him about events beyond his - or our - control are 'frustrating' to him, as they are us: 'I feel I am not answering like a football manager. I think 80 per cent of the questions are not about the football side.

'I do not think anybody at the club is happy with the situation.'

Although he also knows that his place to is oversee events on the pitch, and as difficult as it is with the state of it off it, this is what he will continue to do - and not give up: 'my job and the players' job is to do things on the pitch. The situation is not easy. But we can just do our best for the team on the pitch.

'There are enough problems on the pitch that I need to take care of.

'I will not give up, even with this situation.'

As we all know there was a small demonstration by a few fans after the game, reports say up to 300 people, although a friend of mine - I was at the game but did not attend any protest, I did not even know there was one planned - said it was more like 100 or so...

Apparently this chanting, such as 'you're not fit to run the club', 'sack the board' and 'where's all our money gone' could be heard as he gave this interview and Grant - not that ANY was aimed at him, or the players really to be fair - had words of praise for us fans: 'I want to say that I am very impressed with the supporters. They were behind us during the game.

'It is not an easy time for us. But generally they have been completely behind us. I respect them.'

The little that Grant did talk about the game saw him say that he felt we deserved to win as we had enough chances to have done that but all in all he accepted a 1-1 draw as it means we are 'still in the cup', at least for now...

Richard Hughes, speaking on The Quay after the game, said that he could respect why some fans would want to protest and it was up to them if they wanted to if they felt it necessary, as he knows that this is OUR club and we will remain regardless.

One player that came out to face this crowd - despite being advised against it - and NOT a 'hate mob' as some media called it, was Younes Kaboul, who many feel played his last game for us on Saturday, who is said to have commented: 'I understand your frustration.'

He was meted by chants of 'Younes is our leader' before the crowds dispersed.

It is a shame that AS ALWAYS most of the post, along with the pre I guess, game talk has to focus so much on the off-the-field issues as opposed to those on it! Not that the game was very good mind, far from it...

PLAY UP POMPEY!

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