Source: SKY_Sports
Hart hopes to keep Distin
// A bit of a hack but it works// The article snippet is wrapped onto a second line, even when #article-sub is emptyif( $("div#article-sub").children().length == 0 ) {$("div#article-sub").remove();} Portsmouth boss Paul Hart is hoping Sylvain Distin stays at the club despite asking to leave Fratton Park.[LNB] Distin sat out the club's 4-1 Carling Cup triumph over Hereford after sustaining a knock to his foot.[LNB]Distin has been strongly linked with a move to Aston Villa, but Hart is hopeful he can retain his defensive linchpin even though he has expressed a desire to move on.[LNB]Hart said: "We've had a conversation and he has expressed that desire (to leave).[LNB]"He's a great player, a great fellow and a wonderful captain.[LNB]"Sylvain didn't play against Hereford because he was injured. He got a kick on[LNB]his foot.[LNB]"We desperately want him to stay."[LNB]Despite Distin seeking an exit Portsmouth gave their fans something to cheer about with a comfortable win over Hereford..[LNB]Striker Frederic Piquionne spearheaded the Pompey attack and opened the scoring after 20 minutes.[LNB]He set up John Utaka for the second three minutes later before Niko Kranjcar[LNB]and Richard Hughes netted either side of half-time to secure Pompey's passage.[LNB]Piquionne was replaced by Kanu midway through the second half to a standing ovation from the Fratton Park fans.[LNB]PraiseWhile Hart admits Piquionne is still short of fitness, he was impressed by the[LNB]Lyon loanee's efforts against the Bulls.[LNB]"Frederic has done very well," said Hart[LNB]"We thought we knew what pre-season he had done and that he had played four games before he came over here.[LNB]"But we're not exactly sure what a French pre-season is.[LNB]"I think he has a bit to come in terms of his match fitness and his fitness[LNB]for the Premier League.[LNB]"It was a big step for him to come into this league.[LNB]"He is probably going to have to change his game slightly but he has done[LNB]really well."[LNB]Hart added: "We went about it in an extremely professional manner and we scored goals.[LNB]"I've said all along that these games are important - the Carling Cup is[LNB]extremely important.[LNB]"We'll continue to take it seriously and I think it was proved how serious we[LNB]are taking it."[LNB]NervousHereford boss John Trewick admits his League Two side were unable to get into their stride, and suspects nerves may have played their part in the outcome.[LNB]"We never got off the ground really with our passing and some of our players looked a bit nervous," admitted Trewick.[LNB]"Possibly some of them looked around the pitch at some of the names and faces and didn't quite have enough belief to get at them.[LNB]"It was disappointing - we lost our shape a little bit as well in the centre of the pitch.[LNB]"When you allow Kranjcar to have a free run at your centre-backs from a deep[LNB]position, you know you're going to get into trouble.[LNB]"We lost it in the first 20 minutes of the game I thought and once they were two or three up, it was damage limitation."[LNB]
