Kal has the answer in ‘rubbish’ spectacle

IT WAS far from a classic but Kal Naismith’s goal was enough to give Portsmouth victory in a derby labelled “rubbish” by Plymouth boss Derek Adams.

Pompey are seventh, five points short of the play-off zone, but if there was an entertainment element worked into the league’s points system, Portsmouth would be much closer to Plymouth who are now propping up the rest of the league

The quality of the football played was honestly summed up by Adams who said: “It was rubbish. That was the worst game I have been involved in between Plymouth and Portsmouth.

“It had 0-0 written all over it and it was only settled by a weak goal.

“There was nothing in the game between the two sides and both of them couldn’t create chances.

“The goalkeepers had few saves that they had to make and I don’t think either side deserved to win it.”

And Naismith’s 26thminute winner was anything but a classic. As he chased a long ball forward Plymouth keeper Remi Matthews decided not to wait to collect it in his penalty area.

However, having stepped outside of it he failed to control the ball with his feet and although under pressure from a defender, Naismith was able to poke the ball home from 20 yards out.

Naismith, deputising for injured top scorer Brett Pitman was involved in the best move of the match in the 76th minute when he was put clear but his shot hit a post.

And the collision he had with Matthews left both managers with a headache.

Naismith had to be taken off with a knee injury and could join Pitman on the sidelines until the new year while Matthews had to play the rest of the game with a shin injury because Adams did not have a fit replacement on the bench.

Adams added: “The injury picked up by our keeper just makes the situation at the club worse. We have three others keepers injured and now a fourth one and there’s no sign of the others coming back.”

The two best chances Plymouth created in the game fell to Cameroon defender Yann Songo’o in the first half. Sent forward for set-pieces he had one header which flew just over and another just wide.

Portsmouth boss Kenny Jackett said: “We did very well keeping Plymouth away from our goal. We defended resolutely to hold on to the one-goal lead.

“We wanted more goals but we lacked the cutting edge.”