Knight: Must-win game for Trotters

11 September 2009 13:56
Manager Gary Megson has admitted it is a huge game between the Premier League's only two pointless clubs and Knight thinks, after three successive defeats, now is the time to get their season up and running. "I don't think it's a belief around the changing room but personally, having played in the Premier League for the last few years, I believe it is a must win," said the centre-back, a summer arrival from Aston Villa. "We have to go to Fratton Park and I don't think we can even think about a draw, we have to go and get three points." Pressure is already growing on Megson after defeats by Sunderland, Hull and Liverpool - against whom they twice led before the dismissal of Sean Davis saw the Merseysiders snatch a 3-2 win. But Knight insists the Premier League table does not accurately reflect their performances so far. "Results wise it has been very frustrating because I felt we have put in good shifts and maybe we deserved something out of them," he said. "However, that is part and parcel of the Premier League and football in general. "There might be games where we don't put in as good an effort and get something out of it. "We haven't had a bad dressing room, everyone still has great belief - especially as against Liverpool we did fantastically and it was only when we had a man sent off when the game changed. "Our heads are high and, if we can go into Saturday's game with the same belief as two weeks ago against Liverpool, I really do believe we can get something out of it." Megson is more pragmatic, accepting they cannot afford to lose at Fratton Park. "It is a huge game from both clubs' point of view," he said. "Obviously, if there is a winner one club is going to be left with no points and the other club will go up four or five places and suddenly life looks much better. "But we have to make sure we get a result sooner rather than later because then you have to start coping with things on the periphery that start to invade the club and make life more difficult." The two goals against Liverpool were Wanderers' first of the league season and, in an attempt to strengthen the forward line, Megson signed Croatia international Ivan Klasnic in a loan deal on transfer deadline day. The 29-year-old, brought in from Nantes, is included in tomorrow's squad and the manager expects to give the former Werder Bremen striker some pitch time. "He will feature. He gives us an option because we started the season with two centre-forwards in Johan Elmander and Kevin Davies," said Megson. "It is a risk on behalf of the football club bringing Ivan in and it is a risk for him in joining us but it is a risk worth taking for both parties. "Hopefully it is one of those relationships that just drops into place." Portsmouth 13/8, Bolton 7/4, Draw 11/5  

Source: Team_Talk