Paul Cook has sounded the change alarm at Pompey after back-to-back games without a win.

Defeat against Exeter and a draw against Yeovil - both at Fratton Park - left many fans questioning the manager's Plan B. Both fixtures highlighted Pompey's ineffectiveness against teams who, for the want of a less common term, park the bus.

Now Cook, who sees his side remain in the top four, is looking elsewhere for new recruits to bolster his squad. Which is great news - unless you're James Dunne.

The midfielder has made one appearance from the bench for his new manager this season and has largely been frozen out of the first-team fold, despite being a first XI starter under Andy Awford and Gary Waddock last term.

Adam May and Ben Tollitt have had regular places among the substitutes this season with Cook's willingness to include youth continuing.

But for Dunne - rumoured to have upset Pompey by moving further away from the club - hearing messages from his manager that he could yet be further from the first-team fold may, in fact, signal the end of his Pompey career.

For the rest of the squad, it's now time is to fight and improve - or be cast aside. One goal in two consecutive home games may signal a lack of depth in firepower, but blame must also (and IMO largely) be placed on the club's creative players.

Against Yeovil, the route to goal was often curtailed by the Glovers' strong stance and excellent defensive work ethic.

But in a game that was there for the taking, against a struggling League Two outfit, creative sparks like Gary Roberts and Kyle Bennett should've done more to aide Matt Tubbs - the Blues' lone striker for the day.

I asked questions of those around me after the game on whether Cook had changed Pompey's stance to suit Tubbs, and whether Jayden Stockley would've added a favourable, combative edge. The jury's still out on that one.

But one thing that is certain for Cook and Pompey is that we're not going to succeed in a tough division unless we learn to break down the ugly football, and if need be, play dirty.

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