Source: PA
Pompey boss rues Ashdown howler
Portsmouth manager Steve Cotterill refused to blame goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown after his error handed QPR their opening goal in Tuesday night`s 2-0 defeat at Loftus Road.
Ashdown let Adel Taarabt's long-range drive slip through his hands before Clint Hill headed a second to preserve Rangers' place at the top of the npower Championship and leave Pompey without a win in eight league games.
Cotterill said: "It was a howler by Jamie Ashdown - there's nothing more you can say about that. But there's been games this season when he's pulled saves off. He needs to keep his head up.
"He's been superb for us this season, so there's absolutely no blame being attributed to him for that mistake. Then for the second goal, we lost a man and missed a header in the box. We don't normally do that.
"We were the better side, both in the first half and the second. Then when we were 2-0 down, Paddy Kenny produced a great save from Jonathan Hogg and, if that had gone in, it would have been game on again.
"We need more players and are disappointed with the result, for sure. But we're fine. The fans know the job I've got here and I've built a rapport with the players."
