Pompey goalkeeper Simon Eastwood spoke to his club's official website ahead of his side's League One clash against Carlisle at Fratton Park on Saturday afternoon, Eastwood pleased to finally get a clean sheet to his name in a 0-0 draw at Hartlepool on Tuesday evening:
“We’ve struggled over the last few weeks. Our defending has got better, but we’ve been a bit unlucky. So it was massive for us to get a clean sheet on Tuesday night. It’s a start and gives us something to build on ahead of the Carlisle game. Every goalkeeper just wants to make sure the ball stays out of the net, so it’s been frustrating recently. That’s why it felt so good to get a clean sheet up at Hartlepool.
“There have been a lot of lads coming in and out and it’s nice if you can have a settled back four in front of you. But the situation that we’re in means there are going to be a lot of changes and we just have to get on with it. Hopefully you’ll see the back four start to come together and look steadier for the rest of the season.
“I’m one of the only players left that was at the club at the start of the season. So much has gone on, but I’m just happy to be playing for a massive club like Pompey. This is a great club to play for even though there is a lot happening off the pitch and I want to prove to everyone what I’m capable of. The circumstances mean that a lot of players have been given a chance this season and it’s up to all of us to take that.”
Meanwhile Pompey caretaker manager Guy Whittingham commented:
“We set up to be more solid at Hartlepool and that obviously paid dividends. But we adapt our tactics for every side we face, so there is no guarantee that we will adopt the same system on Saturday. It was a tremendous effort against a good footballing side on Tuesday, but now we have to remain competitive and try to pick up more points.
“Carlisle beat us at their place at the start of the season, although our side has changed dramatically since then. But we know it will be a decent side that makes the long journey to Fratton Park this week and we’ll certainly have to be at our best to pick up all three points.
"We're almost playing games like we would in pre-season where we are trying out formations to work out our best one. The difference is we are doing this during the middle of the season. We've got to make sure we remain competitive throughout it all and that is ultimately what we are trying to do.
“I was speaking to some of the players as we were leaving the pitch on Tuesday and they couldn’t believe how many fans had travelled up to watch us on a cold night in Hartlepool. I’m not sure many other clubs would take that many fans up in similar circumstances and the players really do appreciate such wonderful backing.”
In team news for a threadbare Portsmouth squad they look likely to have just one player missing through injury or suspension, that being veteran striker David Connolly who is currently struggling with a hamstring problem.
The referee for tomorrow's match is Surrey FA man Carl Berry from Cheam and he will be assisted down the lines by Constantine Hatzidakis from Bromley in Kent and Rob Hyde from the London FA, Meanwhile the fourth official is John Busby from Oxford.