Grant insists Pompey will keep the faith

Outwardly, at least, Avram Grant stays daring but it is right away unfit to omit the actuality that no make a difference what the outcome of their courtroom conflict to save the club, on the representation Portsmouth are doomed.

The physical education instructor has confirmed the self-assurance that all is not lost and had his side won this game, as they so simply could have finished but for bad finishing and even poorer refereeing, they would right away be positioned five points off safety. A daunting, but not unfit gap.

Instead, they are marooned eight points adrift after this diversion slipped from their learn in the majority unpleasant of resources with Stoke surrogate Salif Diao snatching a breakaway winning thought his initial Premier League set upon given 2002 dual mins in to combined time.

Grant insisted he and his side will go on to quarrel until the last gameand that could be at Burnley subsequent Saturday if the bar fails to deflect off the winding-up apply to served by Her Majestys Revenue and Customs and due to be listened in the High Court on 1 Mar but midfielder Quincy Owusu-Abeyie struck a some-more staid note.

"Its a really bad outcome since we indispensable to win," pronounced the former Arsenal youngster, sealed on loan last month from Spartak Moscow. "We still have twelve games to go and who knows what the alternative teams will do? The initial half we were seeking for the win and right away it looks similar to diversion over. Its the lowest I"ve felt after a game. It looks bad, but we cant lose faith. You never know, we could lift off a miracle."

An doubtful shun competence still have been on had the referee, Mike Dean, not perceived misled recommendation from his partner and ruled out Fr�d�ric Piquionnes early bid for offside. Piquionne eventually put Pompey brazen in the 35th notation but Robert Huth leveled five mins after the break. A point still seemed likely, quite after Stoke full-back Andy Wilkinson picked up a second yellow label in the 73rd minute, until Diao struck. "Salif was meant to give us a small insurance when he came on, instead he went and scored the winner," certified Huth.

Stoke right away see brazen to this weeks FA Cup fifth-round replay with Manchester City whilst Portsmouths courtesy is lerned on the boardroom. With the Premier League carrying motionless opposite permitting the bar to offload players to lift supports this week arch senior manager Peter Storrie claims the thought was the leagues in the initial place the poke for nonetheless an additional new owners will turn increasingly unfortunate this week "This better was really painful," Grant said. "We have played well in the last 3 games and got one point. But I hold that if we go on to fool around similar to this, it will be great for the destiny of the club. If the bar exists."

Portsmouth (4-5-1): James ; Finnan (Webber, 86), Wilson, Hreidarsson, Belhadj; Dindane, Yebda (Utaka, 66), Bouba Diop, O"Hara, Owusu-Abeyie; Piquionne (Kanu, h-t). Substitutes not used: Ashdown (gk), Rocha, Mullins, Basinas.

Stoke City (4-4-2): Sorensen; Wilkinson, Huth, Shawcross, Collins; Delap, Whitehead, Whelan, Tuncay (Diao, 76); Sidibe, Fuller (Kitson, 90). Substitutes not used: Begovic (gk), Lawrence, Beattie, Pugh, Faye.

Referee: M Dean (Wirrall).

Booked: Portsmouth O"Hara, Hreidarsson; Stoke Wilkinson.

Sent off: Wilkinson (73).

Man of the match: O"Hara.

Attendance: 17,208.