Forgotten Kal could stay at Pompey

ASSISTANT manager Leam Richardson told Kal Naismith he may still have a future at Fratton Park after he stepped out of the shadows to help Portsmouth grab a late winner.

The former Rangers midfielder was put on the transfer list at the end of last season and has been frozen out of the first team this term.

But Naismith, 24, came off the bench to win an 85th- minute penalty after Exeter defender Pierce Sweeney was adjudged to have pushed him over.

Gary Roberts stepped up to dispatch the penalty and earn Pompey a second successive win.

Richardson said: “We showed real desire and heart to win.

“I read in the programme that we have faced the least amount of shots in the league and we defended superbly.

“I haven’t seen the penalty but I am told Kal got in front of his man. If Kal wants to be part of Portsmouth he needs to apply himself to the team a lot better.

“He has to get his head down and work hard and, if he does that, I am sure he will make more appearances for Portsmouth.”

Pompey boss Paul Cook had to watch from the stands after being slapped with a twomatch touchline ban for misconduct during a 2-0 defeat at Morecambe earlier this month.

But he saw his side carve out the better chances in the first half with Curtis Main testing Bobby Olejnik with a low drive and Carl Baker blasting wide.

Exeter defender Troy Brown made two crucial blocks to deny Main and Gary Roberts.

The Grecians best first-half chance saw Liam McAlinden bundle a shot straight at David Forde.

Joel Grant was unable to apply the decisive touch to Jake Taylor’s cross in the 84th minute and Exeter were left to count the cost after Roberts converted from the spot a minute later.

Exeter boss Paul Tisdale branded the spot-kick decision weak, saying: “I was surprised that the referee gave the penalty and I think their players were as well.

“It was a shoulder-toshoulder and it was something and nothing. I would be surprised if I changed my mind watching the video.

“We were very unlucky to put that much effort in and then lose the game to a penalty and such a weak decision.

“I was really impressed with the way the players stuck at it.

“The last thing we need right now is another game on Tuesday. We are losing player after player and it is just too much.”