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Redknapp blasts schoolboy defending

Pompey boss Harry Redknapp today slammed his team defensive performance in the 4-0 hammering by Chelsea yesterday. All of the defenders were looking like they were having off days as well as David James

Redknapp told The News: 'Some of the defending was just basic errors.

'We hit a goal-kick, John Terry headed it forward and Joe Cole was suddenly through on our goal.

'As a nine-year-old kid, if you see that their defender is going to win the header, you drop off.

'It's so easy, it's almost scary.

'We ended up standing there just watching and then having to chase it. That's how we defended all day – it was poor.'

You could partly put this down to it being the first game of the season and the players not being fully match sharp, except that Chelsea where razor sharp. If the defensive unit keep playing like this Kaboul may get his chance in the back four sooner than expected.

Even Sylvain Distin thought the team performance was below par.

Talking to the Portsmouth FC Official site he said "They played well and we didn't. We helped them a lot, which I'm not happy about.

"We didn't perform. We conceded four goals. The final one from Deco was a wonderful strike, but the three before were silly goals.

"I don't think it's got anything to do with systems. It's eleven against eleven, and a case of everyone doing their job. Everyone needs to follow his man and do his work.

"When things go right the whole team takes the credit, and when they go wrong the responsibility is with the whole team too. We didn't follow players, we didn't communicate well enough.

"I think if you do your work you can match Chelsea. They are a team full of quality, but we've been able to match teams like this before, like Manchester United at Wembley in the Community Shield."

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