Pompey promise after war cry

The Blues boss has delivered a rousing speech to his troops, as they bid to get their League Two campaign firing at AFC Wimbledon.

Whittingham cancelled his players’ day off on Wednesday after the 3-0 Johnstone’s Paint Trophy capitulation at Newport County the night before.

The Pompey manager oversaw a video inquest into the weak cup exit at Rodney Parade.

But Whittingham then raised his men with a call to arms ahead of a big period of league action.

Goalkeeper Trevor Carson lifted the lid on the war cry and told of the desire in the Blues squad to bury the ghost of the nightmare in Wales.

Carson said: ‘We were called in and quite right, too.

‘I fully expected it after Tuesday’s performance.

‘The lads were down, especially going in to watch the video. We were thinking it’s going to be a horror show. No-one was looking forward to it.

‘But the manager talked the whole way through the first 20 minutes. We tried to look at the positives and then he gave a speech.

‘Everyone came out of the meeting determined to put things right.

‘He didn’t run anyone down, but told us what an opportunity we had at this club and how special it is. You can be part of something here.

‘He made sure he was talking about the rewards, not financial rewards, but the legacy success here will have on the club and our careers.

‘If we get a promotion at Pompey this season we will be remembered, whether it’s League Two or not.

‘We’re not a million miles off the play-offs. If we put the wins together we will be up there.

‘It was a top class speech and wiped the memory of the game out.

‘We went in feeling down and came out pumped up and ready to roll our sleeves up and get going again.

‘It was top-drawer and we know now we have put it right against Wimbledon.’

Whittingham had told his men he believes there are the characters in the squad to propel Pompey up the league.

And the desire to do that has been displayed in the intensity shown in training since Newport.

Carson said: ‘The manager was looking at characters when he was bringing in players this summer, who can deal with expectation.

‘There is an expectation here, and rightly so, because the fans are turning up in their numbers every week.

‘They expect – and we have to repay them. It’s professional here. We could have had the day off, and that’s happened at some clubs I’ve been at.

‘But we were in and training on Wednesday was top-drawer – everyone was at it.

‘The fans want success and we’re determined to forget about Tuesday and put it right in the league.’