Hart keeps Pompey heart

01 October 2009 17:33
Paul Hart remains upbeat despite Portsmouth's troubled start to the season. Last week's 1-0 home defeat by Everton meant Pompey had opened with seven straight league defeats - the worst start to a top-flight campaign since Manchester United lost their opening 12 matches of the 1930/31 season. But despite the result, the Pompey faithful acknowledged it was a much-improved performance and Hart believes it is only a matter of time before they are picking up points. "I think you can only be positive and that performance last week was a massive lift for everybody," he said. "The team got a standing ovation at the end of it. "The players have been very good and there has been no difference in any of the training sessions over the past two or three months. They've done extremely well. "We've picked the bones out of the game and tried to look at the positives. They knew we played well. "They know that if they play like that again, it is inevitable results will come." Pompey continue their bid to collect their first Premier League point of the season away to Wolves on Saturday. Ivory Coast international Aruna Dindane is expected to lead the line after an encouraging debut against Everton last week, although Frederic Piquionne is pushing for a recall after bagging a brace for the reserves against West Ham on Tuesday. "I thought he (Dindane) was excellent in his first game," said Hart. "He held it up, got behind them, had chances and I thought it was a terrific performance on his debut. "Piquionne scored two for the reserves and strikers need goals. He has probably taken the longest to settle, more than any of the others. "It's a different culture and the Premier League is different to anything else anybody can face. "Not everybody can settle at the same speed. But he did okay for the reserves and he'll be better for getting his two goals." Wolves suffered a 5-2 defeat at Sunderland on Sunday but Hart will be happy with the slenderest of victories at Molineux. "One goal will do and if we don't let any in at the other end, I would settle for that," he said. "If you watched their game last week, I don't think that result was a true reflection of the game. "But they'll be determined to put that right - as determined as we are to get three points." Hart is no stranger to being in the firing line having managed Nottingham Forest when they were stricken by financial problems in 2001, and he believes that will stand him in good stead as he aims to turn things round at Fratton Park. "I think, subconsciously, I probably draw on those experiences - knowing things can change and things can get better," he added. "I think I've got a positive outlook. Sometimes when I'm with my staff I sound off and get it out of my system, but we have to be positive after what we did last week."

Source: SKY_Sports