Pompey take on Carlisle on Saturday witgh their goal-shy midfielders being told to stop admiring their own passes and get into the box.

The management are disappointed with the lack of goals from the likes of Danny Hollands and wide man Ricky Holmes and want them to do more to support the strikers and boost Pompey's goal tally.

The Blues are averaging just one goal per game in the league so far, a major reason why they go into this weekend languishing in the bottom half.

Joint first team coach Alan McLoughlin wants to see the midfield crew trying their luck.

‘In the first half of the reserves on Tuesday I was disappointed our good play didn’t result in a finish, there were not enough men flooding into the box,' he said. ‘It is something we are trying to address at the first-team level as well.

‘Once you have played it wide, there is no point admiring your pass thinking “that is a lovely pass I have played there”. Have a bit of something about you, get in, get a tap in from eight yards out. We just need to do that a little bit more.

‘Our approach play is good, it’s just that final bit where they don’t believe. It’s not like we don’t do enough in training about putting the ball back and getting in there, you have to take it into match situations.

‘When I used to play, I would want three chances each half and you keep going, you have to be brave to go in there and keep missing. If you miss the target then people slate you from the sidelines but you have got to be brave enough and strong enough to pick yourself up and go again.'

Team-news wise, Jack Whatmough is fit to return to the defence but may have to settle for a place on the bench.

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