Source: Team_Talk
Cotterill vows to improve Pompey
Portsmouth manager Steve Cotterill has vowed to turn the club's fortunes around after watching them slip to another defeat at Sheffield United.[LNB] Pompey were beaten by a late Ched Evans free-kick at Bramall Lane, but there is plenty to be optimistic about for Cotterill after he watched his side dominate the entire match.[LNB]And there could have been very little arguments had Pompey left with all three points as United were reliant on goalkeeper Steve Simonsen to keep them in the game.[LNB]The former Stoke goalkeeper produced a string of fine saves to deny John Utaka, David Nugent and Liam Lawrence as Portsmouth desperately tried to register their first league win of the season.[LNB]However, they could not make the elusive breakthrough and they remain stuck to the bottom of the table with just two points from their opening seven games.[LNB]Cotterill has assembled much of his current squad after the season began and he admits they are still not up to pace, which adds to his list of problems.[LNB]"We are not fit enough yet. The only thing the players have done is played the games this week," he said.[LNB]"None of our boys have had a pre-season. We haven't had a good start that has given us a base fitness-wise.[LNB]"The games come thick and fast and we would have preferred a week's training.[LNB]"It's not an easy job. I can't believe how hard it has been to get where we are.[LNB]"There have been a lot of problems that are deep-rooted but we will get to the bottom of them and turn it around."[LNB]Pompey have hit the back of the net just two times in the league this season and after watching his side create a hatful of chances at Bramall Lane, Cotterill knew his side should have left with the points.[LNB]"It's been like that for the last three games. There's no reward there. I felt that was a game we deserved to win," he added.[LNB]"It summed it up when their goalkeeper was named man of the match. We played very well and created some good chances."[LNB]Sheffield United boss Gary Speed was happy to admit his side were fortunate to take anything from the game, but hailed his side for grinding out the win.[LNB]"Credit Portsmouth, they have done a job on us. They played very well and stopped us playing," he said.[LNB]"We could play a lot better but we won the game, which I am delighted with.[LNB]"You can't play great every week and when you don't you have to make sure you get a result and that's what we did."
