Howe sad over Pompey's plight

Eddie Howe has spoken of his sadness at seeing Pompey in a fight for their lives.

The former Blues defender will attempt to push his old side closer to the drop today when Michael Appleton’s men take on Burnley.

Howe had an injury-hit two-year period at Fratton Park after arriving in 2002.

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The 34-year-old Clarets boss admitted it was tough seeing his ex-club struggle.

Howe knows all about financial woes himself after managing Bournemouth to League Two survival following their 17-point deduction in 2008.

He felt the fans and current staff at Pompey did not deserve to suffer for what has gone before.

But he was wary of the Blues’ plight making them a more dangerous threat for his side to contend with this afternoon at Fratton Park.

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Howe said: ‘I don’t want to criticise Portsmouth, they’ve obviously had their problems.

‘What they’re trying to do now is stay up despite the 10-point penalty.

‘I think what that has done is rejuvenated them and given them a backs-against-the-wall siege mentality.

‘They have a really good history and fantastic support as everyone knows.

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‘It’s sad to see them struggle, and they have done now for a number of years.

‘The players down there won’t deserve it, the management staff won’t deserve it and, most of all, the fans won’t deserve it.

‘It can be a really difficult situation but in some senses it takes the pressure off the players.

‘Sometimes you can find things that you didn’t know you had deep within you.

‘That’s what makes it such a dangerous game for us.’