Stoke’s character in win at Portsmouth impresses boss Mark Robins

Stoke manager Mark Robins praised his side’s character after they returned to winning ways with a 1-0 triumph over Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

Portsmouth defender Hayden Matthews scored a second half own goal to gift the Potters a narrow victory, only their second win in seven Sky Bet Championship games.

Robins said: “It’s really important we give the fans that feeling of going home happy, even when it’s not the best performance we’ve had this season.

“It was one of the most important wins we’ve had this season. I think we’ve shown great character.

“You can see what happens in a three-game week when you’ve had the mileage and everything else and both teams are giving the ball away needlessly, cheaply.

“We were really good in the first half and would have been good value for two goals to the good.

“We didn’t take them and it gives them encouragement that they’re still in the game and then they put us under a bit of pressure. It can make you doubt yourself.

“We made some strange decisions when we let the ball bounce or we were trying to block for somebody else to come and head but we ended up getting away with things and the goalkeeper made a brilliant save.

“But I can only remember him making one brilliant save. That was the chance they had to equalise.”

The best chance of a dour first half came in stoppage time when the lively Divin Mubama beat the offside trap only to see his strike beaten away by goalkeeper Jo Bursik.

The home side were able to bring fit-again star player Josh Murphy on as a substitute and he made an instant impact.

Murphy’s dangerous cross picked out Makenzie Kirk perfectly but the Northern Irishman’s close range effort was somehow kept out by Viktor Johansson, in front of his newly-appointed Sweden national team boss Graham Potter.

Pompey were made to pay for that miss 20 minutes from time when the luckless Matthews headed a cross from Wales winger Sorba Thomas beyond Bursik.

After a promising start to the season, Pompey have now won just one game since the end of August.

Home manager John Mousinho felt his side deserved something for their efforts, saying: “We caused a huge amount of problems and created a lot of chances without putting the ball in the back of the net.

“We were pleased with that, without actually being a goal or two goals ahead and, ultimately, that’s what cost us.

“It was great to have Josh Murphy back in for the last half an hour and create that chance straight away.

“For their goal we don’t move our feet quickly enough in the box, and we’re in the wrong positions.

“I think this is probably the most frustrating result of the week. We got a really good point at Leicester and against Coventry we were beaten by a side that’s absolutely flying at the moment.

‘It just felt like today the game was there for us.”