Moyes backs Hart to keep Pompey afloat - 7M sport

Moyes backs Hart to keep Pompey afloat

Posted Saturday, September 26, 2009 by PA

David Moyes backed Paul Hart to steer Portsmouth out of trouble after Everton condemned the Barclays Premier League's bottom club to a seventh successive defeat.

French striker Louis Saha struck in the 42nd minute to stretch Everton's winning run to four matches but the visitors rode their luck, especially in the second half.

Pompey missed a host of chances and remain anchored to the foot of the table after suffering the worst start in Premier League history.

But Moyes has backed Pompey to turn their season around and said: "Paul is doing a great job. His squad was only put together at the last minute and he had a lot of things taken away from him.

"You could see the attitude of his players - they gave him everything right until the last minute.

"It's also good to see how the supporters backed their team.

"Portsmouth are only seven games into the season and football changes around very quickly."

Pompey created enough chances to win the match several times over with Aaron Mokoena hitting the crossbar, Tal Ben Haim failing from point-blank range and Hassan Yebda seeing his effort cleared off the line.

Hart believes it is only a matter of time until they start climbing the table.

"We played tremendously well, creating really good chances in the first half and in the second we should have scored," said Hart.

"But with a spirit and performance like that, I thought the players were fantastic.

"We can't keep shooting ourselves in the foot but if we retain that spirit and continue to work like that we'll turn it around.

"The players have been excellent and I don't see any reason why they won't keep that going."

Hart was unhappy with the defending of Younes Kaboul, who allowed Saha to beat him to John Heitinga's long-range cross before the Frenchman drilled home a clinical finish.

"It wasn't great play from Everton. If the ball travels 40 yards it should be dealt with," he said.

"Defensively we were generally very sound and our forward play was magnificent. Kevin-Prince Boateng was magnificent.

"We created many chances and should have finished better."

It was Saha's seventh goal of the campaign and Moyes was delighted with his contribution.

"Louis himself is the reason he's got going so well," he said

"He's worked really hard, looked after himself during the summer and his goals are reward for the effort he has put in.

"He's done really well so far this season and I think there's more goals to come from him."

Moyes added: "We came under a lot of pressure which was to be expected.

"But I'm really pleased at the way we handled it and came out in the end. A 1-0 would have done me before the game.

"I would have liked to have won in better style but I'm happy with the three points.

"I'm fairly pleased with our run. We can play much better and haven't hit the form I'd expect us to. We can play far better.

"But if you keep clean sheets you have a lot better chance of winning."

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