Source: Team_Talk
Grant defends patched-up Pompey
Portsmouth manager Avram Grant defended his team selection for Wednesday night's goalless draw at Wigan after making eight changes.[LNB] Grant also named only four substitutes and no reserve goalkeeper on his bench for the clash at the DW Stadium.[LNB]There were only three survivors from Sunday's FA Cup semi-final victory over Tottenham as Grant handed debuts to 20-year-olds Joel Ward and Matt Ritchie and named teenagers Lenny Sowah and Marlon Pack on the bench.[LNB]But despite the alterations Pompey managed to keep Wigan at bay as goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown made a number of saves, although he was rarely seriously troubled.[LNB]Grant said he had no option but to pick the squad he had done and did not expect any repercussions from the Premier League.[LNB]"The Premier League need not say anything about Portsmouth," he said.[LNB]"They need to give us an award because we are playing as we play with a lot of injuries - it is not ideal for us.[LNB]"But what can I do, we have many players who were injured so we used some players from the academy and I was very pleased with them.[LNB]"We needed to do it because we have a very small squad. Hassan Yebda was on the bench but even he was not fit and therefore he didn't play.[LNB]"We didn't even have a reserve goalkeeper on the bench but Ashdown did very well.[LNB]"In the last three games we've had clean sheets and he has played in two of them."[LNB]Wigan boss Roberto Martinez cautiously welcomed a point despite dominating for most of the game at the DW Stadium.[LNB]The draw in front of 14,166 fans - the lowest Premier League crowd of the season - lifted Wigan up to 16th but they are only five points ahead of third-bottom Burnley with remaining matches against Arsenal, West Ham, Hull and Chelsea.[LNB]"It was one of those tricky performances," said the Spaniard.[LNB]"I knew when I saw the line-up Portsmouth had to play in a different way and they reacted well in adversity.[LNB]"They were very organised and got players behind the ball. The disappointing thing is we had a lot of possession and couldn't take advantage.[LNB]"Normally we find the right decision or composure in the last third of the pitch but tonight probably the anxiety and desire to get three points cost us.[LNB]"You get into a game where you start playing with your heart and not your head and we didn't use the quality we have got to work the goalkeeper more.[LNB]"We are all disappointed because we couldn't break a team down.[LNB]"But on the other hand I've seen it time after time when a team goes down the other end and scores."[LNB]A chorus of boos rang out both at the interval and full-time but Martinez said he sympathised with the fans.[LNB]"I understand the supporters because we are all frustrated and disappointed," he added.
