Portsmouth’s Ebou Adams Urges Team to Embrace Fearlessness in Championship Season
Portsmouth midfielder Ebou Adams has urged his teammates to adopt a fearless approach as they gear up for the Championship season, expressing confidence in their ability to compete against any team in the division.
The Blues experienced defeat on Saturday against West Ham in the initial round of the Carabao Cup. Despite a solid start where they took an early lead and played impressively for the first 40 minutes, the match concluded with a disappointing outcome.
Advertisement
Adrian Segecic found the net with a deflected strike just after the half-hour, but Portsmouth’s challenge faltered as they let in three quick goals, causing the game to slip away from them.
Adams hopes that the encouraging display from the first half can carry over into their Championship opener against QPR this weekend, particularly to avoid facing another relegation battle.
“I will ensure that we do not endure what we faced last season again,” Adams told BBC Radio Solent.
“There’s nothing to fear here; there is no one above our level. We can compete, and we’ve demonstrated that capability.”
Advertisement
“It’s essential for us to enhance our quality in the final third and defensive third to prove that we can stand toe-to-toe with the top-tier teams.”
Adams started the match against the Hammers, playing the full 90 minutes in an attacking midfield position while Luke Le Roux and new addition Rocco Shein functioned in deeper roles behind him.
For the first 40 minutes, Portsmouth had West Ham under pressure in their own half, but a pair of goals from Valentín Castellanos and a deflected shot from Jarrod Bowen shifted momentum in favor of the hosts.
Having joined Pompey from Derby County last season, Adams felt the team squandered an opportunity to extend their advantage when they pressed well early on.
Advertisement
“It’s very frustrating because I thought we did really well,” the 30-year-old commented after the match. “We pressed well and regained possession at times, but we needed to be more ruthless in the final third to secure that crucial second goal.
“Many of us were left frustrated at halftime over how we conceded two sloppy goals in quick succession. I am indifferent about the opposition; the focus is on us showcasing our capabilities, which we did for the first 40 minutes.”
Portsmouth midfielder Ebou Adams has called on his team-mates to be fearless in the Championship this season and believes they can compete with any other side in the second tier.
The Blues were beaten on Saturday at West Ham in the first round of the Carabao Cup, but took the lead and played well for the opening 40 minutes.
Advertisement
Adrian Segecic’s deflected strike flew into the net just after the half-hour mark, but they then conceded three quick-fire goals as the game slipped away from them.
Adams hopes they can carry the encouraging first-half display at the London Stadium into the start of the Championship season against QPR this weekend to help avoid a third successive relegation fight.
“I will make sure that we do not go through what we did last season again,” Adams told BBC Radio Solent.
“There’s nothing to fear here, there is no one above our level, we can compete and we have shown that we can do that.
Advertisement
“It’s just up to us to improve our quality in the final third and defensive third to show that we can compete with the highest quality teams.”
Adams started the match against the Hammers and played 90 minutes in an attacking midfield role, with Luke Le Roux and new signing Rocco Shein sitting deeper behind him.
Portsmouth had West Ham pinned back in their own half in the opening 40 minutes before two goals from Valentín Castellanos and a deflected Jarrod Bowen strike turned things around for the hosts.
Adams, who joined Pompey from Derby County last season, felt they should have capitalised on their early success and added a crucial second goal.
Advertisement
“It’s very frustrating because I thought we did really well,” the 30-year-old said after the game.
“We pressed well and won the ball back at times but we needed to be more ruthless in our final third to get that second goal.
“Lots of us came in frustrated at the break at how we managed to concede two sloppy goals so quick, I couldn’t care less about who we play against as long as we show what we’re about and we did for the first 40 minutes.”
[/gpt3]