Ashdown hopes for another chance

Jamie Ashdown was the Pompey keeper the last time we went to Birmingham, the game in which we got slaughtered 5-0 - also a game that proved to be the last that he played for Pompey in the premier league...

Speaking to The News he has said how we must put that game out of our heads - which I am sure we will do - and how much we have changed since then, with us being a completely different side.

But the thing that most caught my eye with what he said were his thoughts on getting 'another chance' for Pompey: 'I had a poor game personally and haven't played since. I've come back stronger from it now and hopefully I'll get another chance one day.'

I do not doubt for one minute that we will avenge that 5-0 mauling, we are a much, much better side than we were then and with all due respect should not be losing to teams like Birmingham, as the difference in class is a big one now...

As for Ashdown I felt sorry for him at the time as he might have had a rough time but he was not the reason that we were in the mess we were but Dean Kiely - who I never really rated to be honest - came in and took over from him.

Since then David James has come along and the arrival of a 'Hollywood keeper' saw Kiely leave in a huff, Ashdown to his credit has stayed, he also signed a new contract back along. But dislodging James, who has been in fantastic form is going to be a mammoth task for almost anyone as there are very few keepers in the world, let alone in this country, or already at the club that I would replace him with.

Ashdown is a good keeper, but the longer he has to sit on the bench the more likely it is that he will move on - if for nothing else for the benefit of his own career, as he is better than a 'bench warmer' but with James around he will rarely, if ever be anything more - and it looks as though James will be around for a good few years yet.

This said I have faith in Ashdown's ability and he will not let us down if called upon, sadly in league terms I cannot see him featuring too often for Pompey again, baring any problems - god forbid - with James... although should this happen if he did come in he would have his chance to stake a claim for the no.1 spot.

PLAY UP POMPEY!

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