Pardew defends cup decision

Southampton manager Alan Pardew has defended his decision to focus on cup competitions as well as their League One campaign this season.Chairman Nicola Cortese this week insisted league results must improve despite Saints sitting in mid-table having overcome the 10-point penalty they suffered at the start of the season.Pardew's side are also in the final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy and face a mouth-watering FA Cup fifth-round tie against south-coast foes Portsmouth on Saturday.Pardew said: "My job is to try and get the right balance between the league campaign and these cup campaigns."Unfortunately in the league we've slipped up a little bit, but we've drawn games rather than lost them. It's very frustrating but we hope to put that right."