Hands up everyone who was surprised at how that game ended up then? Thought so. Yet again Pompey managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory against a dreadful Stoke side in a manner which surely leaves manager Paul Hart in serious danger of losing his job.

In short, Hart simply no longer knows how get teams to win. Or draw for that matter. He has done a dignified job in very difficult circumstances, but since the beginning of May, his record reads played 17, won 3, drawn 1, lost 13. 70% of Pompey's defeats this season have been by the odd goal, reflecting a lack of character and belief rather than quality.

So it proved yet again at the Britannia Stadium. Pompey were the better 'football' team without question, especially in the first half when they passed Stoke off the park, despite playing into the teeth of a gale which would have seemingly aided the Potters' up-and-at-'em style.

The sorry plot started to unravel after just seven minutes when Pompey were rewarded for an enterprising start with a penalty as Rory Delap upended Aruna Dindane. Up stepped Kevin-Prince Boateng and contrived to produce the softest of kicks which Sorensen saved easily.

As soon as the taker was nominated my heart was in my mouth. Three weeks ago we got a penalty against Wigan. Did KPB take it? No. He handed the responsibility to Dindane, who duly got his hat-trick. Nice gesture, but no offence, if KPB didn't fancy the chance to convert a penalty at 3-0 up with no pressure, I didn't fancy him taking one at 0-0 in a 'must win' game...

Not that the miss derailed Pompey's neat and inventive play. Dindane might have done better with a difficult chance as the ball fell to him over his shoulder, but at half time there was no tangible reward, as the home crowd's boos underlined the pitiful nature of the opposition we were up against. Article continues here

Stoke couldn't be any worse in the second half and, to be fair, they weren't. But that's not saying much.

Pompey now had the 'advantage' of the wind, but it was swiftly negated as Stoke shifted the play 20 yards up the field and played the game in our half. Not that they were getting anywhere fast.

Crosses and throws rained into the box, but they were largely directionless and easily dealt with. Jamie Ashdown had barely had a save to make as the game entered its final quarter.

Kanu, presumably picked for his height, was flagging badly, but Pompey ummed and ahhed over a substitution. Eventually it was Dindane who gave way for Piquionne and within seconds Pompey were behind.

Etherington created the goal, but Marc Wilson and Younes Kaboul's stand-offishness allowed Fuller the chance to spin and curl a shot from the edge of the area, past Ashdown, who wasn't quite good enough to get down and save the shot.

Stoke suddenly had their tails up and might have scored a second goal, Wilkinson going closest. Pompey should have levelled when Kanu worked space for a shot but passed responsibility to Boateng whose effort was blocked by...Piquionne. You could not make it up.

Unlucky Pompey eh? Not really. This is not a bad set of players. Far from it. However, they are lacking in conviction. Not once this season have Pompey managed to go for the jugular.

Even the Wigan win - as their Spurs result against them showed - was against a side who are more than capable of committing suicide. Birmingham, Bolton, Hull and now Stoke. One point out of twelve, which should have been at least seven. In spite of everything which has gone one behind the scenes.

The common factor in each of those games was an opposition which was there for the taking at key points in the game. Pompey simply lacked the will and belief to take advantage.

Can someone instill the killer instinct? If not, we are doomed.

Stoke: Sorensen; Wilkinson, Huth, Shawcross, Collins; Delap, Whitehead, Diao (Lawrence 57), Etherington; Beattie (Sidibe 57), Fuller (Tuncay 84)

Pompey: Ashdown; Ben Haim, Kaboul, Wilson, Hreidarsson; Mullins (Webber 80), Brown, Boateng, O’Hara; Dindane (Piquionne 73), Kanu

Referee: Kevin Friend

Attendance: 27,069

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