Andy Awford promised more hard work on the training ground after Pompey came off second best against promotion-hunting Shrewsbury.

A goal in each half by Bobby Grant condemned the Bkues to their first home defeat in more than two months.

Awford gave a blunt assessment, telling the Pompey website: 'Shrewsbury were the better team without a shadow of a doubt and deserved to win the game. We made a brightish start, but then the first goal knocked the stuffing out of us.

'We need to react better than that if we fall behind and that’s something we spoke about in the dressing room afterwards. And we also have to do better with the ball because we gave it away far too cheaply and were punished by a decent side.

'Eventually we got going and changed the shape a bit — we had to do something because it was just drifting along. But we have to give their lad some credit because they were two fantastic finishes.

'It’s going to take a lot of hard work on the training ground to put things right and to make sure we improve in our next game.'

Pompey visit Carlisle on Good Friday.

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