Danny Cowley said he didn't like what he saw of Pompey in possession as they tried - and failed - to break down Lincoln City in Fratton Park's League One opener.
It finished 0-0 and there was little to excite a crowd of more than 17,500, the point leaving the Blues in the bottom half of the early League One table.
Cowley told the club website: 'The attitude and application were good, although that’s a prerequisite and so we aways expect that. Keeping a clean sheet is another real positive and I don’t think that Lincoln had a shot on target against us.
'They’re a much improved and fitter side, but I didn’t like us in possession — I don’t think we were able to find a balance. We were a bit too direct and were playing hopeful football. We’ve got better footballers than that and I wanted to get more control and rhythm.
'There will always be reasons when you have a new group and there’s still a lot of work to do to get that joined up thinking. We’ve also had a sickness bug and a number of them didn’t train on Friday, and maybe in hindsight there were some who shouldn’t have played.
'Perhaps, as a consequence, we didn’t have the same levels of energy and intensity that we normally see. When you’re at home and you have to take the game to the opposition, we’re not quite where we need to be.'
New signing Tom Lowery was presented to the Fratton faithful shortly before kick-off and received a warm welcome.