Source: Team_Talk
Grant feels sorry for Pompey fans
The Premier League's bottom club must replay their third-round clash with the Sky Blues after David Bell gave the visitors a shock lead with a long-range effort after 30 minutes, only for Kevin-Prince Boateng to head in an equaliser in first-half stoppage time.[LNB]Grant's side were unable to break down their Championship opponents in front of a woeful 11,214 crowd at Fratton Park and following the game a large group of home fans besieged the directors' entrance in Frogmore Road, chanting 'sack the board", 'where's the money gone?' and "where's the owner of our club?'"[LNB]With Pompey facing a winding-up petition from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs in the High Court, a transfer embargo and a struggle to pay their players for the third time this season, Grant can understand the fans' frustration.[LNB]He said: "I'm very impressed with the supporters. They were behind us for the whole game and it's not an easy time for us generally or in this game. I respect them.[LNB]"I understand (why they are frustrated) but you must understand that no-one at the club is happy with the situation.[LNB]"My job and the players' job is to do things on the pitch.[LNB]"The situation is not easy but we can do our best for the team on the pitch and that's what I will do."[LNB]Grant has spent more time discussing the club's financial plight than his players' efforts on the pitch since taking over as manager from Paul Hart in November.[LNB]The former Chelsea boss, who once had Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich's vast fortune at his disposal, admits this is getting increasingly tiresome.[LNB]He said: "To be honest, I feel as if I'm not answering as a football manager.[LNB]"Eighty per cent of the questions I have been asked since I came here haven't been about the football.[LNB]"I like to talk about things on the football side, but what can I do?[LNB]"This is the situation and if I have to answer these questions, I will answer these questions.[LNB]"But there are enough problems on the pitch we need to take care of."[LNB]Meanwhile, Coventry boss Chris Coleman was disappointed to see his side's concentration wane just before the interval.[LNB]Richard Hughes was given ample time to fire in an inch-perfect cross from the left-hand side of the box and Boateng nodded into the net unchallenged.[LNB]But the Welshman feels his side leave Fratton Park the happier of the two teams.[LNB]He said: "It will be a better result for us than Portsmouth with their current situation.[LNB]"I think, on the balance of play, it was a fair result. I thought we did well and we coped well when we had to.[LNB]"We were disappointed to concede when we did - a minute before half-time. That's two games running this lack of concentration has let us down.[LNB]"I was very pleased with the lads - I thought they applied themselves really well.[LNB]"We knew it was going to be difficult. They're a Premier League team.[LNB]"Avram fielded his strongest team, so that paid us some respect. But it was a good result for us."[LNB][LNB]
