'Words were exchanged,' Distin admits
Fulham 3 Portsmouth 1
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.On the pitch, Portsmouth are cracking up, and off it they appear to be too. Two months without a Premier League win tells you all you need to know about how the south coast side is playing but the dressing room is not a picture of unity.
Tony Adams, the Portsmouth manager for the moment at least, admitted words were exchanged following the game. "We have an open forum," he admitted.
Sylvain Distin, captain for the day backed him up: "Of course we exchange words. There is a bit of frustration. Everybody is a bit hot, still worrying from the game. You don't talk with calm and composure like you do now [long after the game]. But there was no fight – nothing special other than any other game."
The difficulties Portsmouth face are immense, with such a depleted squad. Adams saw Jermain Defoe and Lassana Diarra sold last month and here he was without the injured Sol Campbell and Niko Kranjcar.
The substitute Erik Nevland, helped by Simon Davies, took advantage of more poor defending to score twice before David Nugent's header. The Cottagers' manager Roy Hodgson was in a similar position to Adams a year ago and survived.
Goals: A Johnson (14) 1-0; Nevland (72) 2-0; Nevland (80)3-0; Nugent (84) 3-1.
Fulham (4-4-2): Schwarzer; Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky; Davies, Etuhu, Murphy, Dempsey (Gera, 90); Zamora (Nevland, 63), A Johnson. Substitutes not used: Zuberbuhler (gk), Andranik, Gray, Stoor, Kallio.
Portsmouth (4-4-2): James; G Johnson, Kaboul (Pamarot, 77), Distin, Hreidarsson; Pennant, Mullins, Davis, Traore (Utaka, 63); Kanu (Nugent h/t), Crouch. Substitutes not used: Begovic (gk), Lauren, Mvuemba, Little.
Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire).
Booked: Portsmouth Mullins. Fulham None
Man of the match: Simon Davies.
Attendance: 23,722.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments