Pompey footballing spirit a tonic for Adams

Portsmouth manager Tony Adams is backing the south coast club's team spirit to help them extend their unbeaten run in the Premier League to six games this weekend.

Pompey are at home to Newcastle after wins over Sunderland and Blackburn, plus draws with West Ham, Hull and West Brom have helped leave them seventh in the table.

“At the moment their attitude and professionalism is first class and I couldn't wish to manage a better group of players,” former Arsenal and England captain Adams said ahead of Sunday's match at Pompey's Fratton Park ground.

“They've got a great togetherness and team spirit. I knew that. It's one of the main reasons why I took the job in the first place,” Adams, previously the assistant to Harry Redknapp before the former Pompey boss took over at Tottenham, added.

“The way they conduct themselves is great and I just hope it continues.

“I'd have liked a few more wins in this five-match unbeaten run but I'm a difficult man to please.”

Adams said stepping up had also meant stepping back and stepping away from some of the more mundane tasks of management.

“I've stepped away from a few sections because I thought that was important. I need to let the other coaches earn their money to be honest.

“I think it's important they do the preparation day-in, day-out and I, as the leader, do that. But other than that I let the coaches do their stuff.

“I work technically with the players, defensively and offensively, and I help them with certain things. I try to motivate them on match days to make sure they deliver the points for us.”

Adams added: “I've had an opportunity to get to work on a few things that you don't usually get to work on. We're in the thick of the season now and the foundations are usually laid in the summer.

“I think I've got a bit of an advantage in that I was here in the summer – there is a little bit of continuity.”

Newcastle are a revived team under manager Joe Kinnear although they are still just a point above the relegation zone.

“He was the Wimbledon manager when I was a player and they were a very direct, physical team. They had some talent as well, of course,” Adams said.