0 Have your say Pompey’s performance resulted in a 0-0 draw against Barnsley – but it was an effort appreciated by supporters. Here's the final analysis of the showdown with the promotion rivals and what we learnt. Penetration’s What You NeedThe performance against a major promotion rival was a marked step in the right direction.It was a distance short of being an irresistible display, but the effort against Barnsley was more reminiscent of the Pompey side which has shone for most of the season.Much of that was down to the returning penetration of Kenny Jackett’s side - particularly in wide areas.Among the three changes was the decision to take Jamal Lowe out of the starting XI, with his manager sensing some energy had evaporated from his game.Viv Solomon-Otabor added impetus down the left in his absence while Ronan Curtis stepped up again after a recent trailing off in his performances.Both full-backs offered a willingness to support … [Read more...] about A Portsmouth step in the right direction as optimism replaces tension against Barnsley
Steps in the right direction
Will Barton on Denver’s 3-game losing streak: Loss to Sixers was “step in the right direction”
PHILADELPHIA – Nuggets wing Will Barton considered Friday’s loss to Philadelphia a step in the right direction even if it extended their losing streak to three. With two games remaining before the All-Star break, Nikola Jokic didn’t sound ready to go that far. “We can just have energy, run around, it’s not going to help us,” Jokic said after his 11th triple-double of the season wasn’t enough in the 117-110 loss to the Sixers. “I think we need to be focused. … If we have energy that doesn’t mean nothing.” Jokic was upset at Denver’s fourth-quarter defense, which short-circuited any shot they had at stealing a game on the road and dropped its record to 37-18. The Sixers scored 34 points on 75% shooting from the field in the fourth. They also got to the free throw line 16 times. “You cannot win the game if they’re gonna shoot like that,” Jokic said. “Especially, we missed a lot of open shots, … [Read more...] about Will Barton on Denver’s 3-game losing streak: Loss to Sixers was “step in the right direction”
Gordon Smith: At last, a step in the right direction… 10 years late
Register for our free newsletter THEY say a journey of 10,000 miles begins with a single step. On Thursday night we saw Scottish football finally embark on a process I advocated 10 years ago. The SFA summit meeting between the Premier League managers and the country’s top referees ended with unanimous support for the introduction of video assistant referee technology, better known as VAR. This, all sides agreed, would help support the officials, who have been the source of huge criticism this season. It would also, through the lowering of their blood pressure if nothing else, help the managers who have been getting themselves so worked up. Why? Because we would get the correct decisions, which surely has to be a good thing. That was the point I argued to the international game’s ruling bodies a decade ago. It was rejected on the grounds it would diminish the essential “human element” of the sport. While that hurdle has now been crossed, there remains a long way … [Read more...] about Gordon Smith: At last, a step in the right direction… 10 years late
Chris Boswell: Working with Shaun Suisham a step in the right direction
Getty Images The Steelers reached out to former kicker Shaun Suisham this week as they tried to fix what’s wrong with current kicker Chris Boswell and the two men worked together at practice on Thursday. Boswell missed two field goals against the Raiders in last Sunday’s loss and he’s up to 11 missed kicks overall this season, which is not what the Steelers expected when they signed Boswell to a contract extension before the season. They spent time looking at other kickers this week, but didn’t sign anyone before Suisham came in to mentor Boswell. Boswell called the session with his predecessor “a step in the right direction.” “It’s just good to have another kicker out there, throwing ideas off each other,” Boswell said, via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “He was in the league for 11 years, so it’s always good to have a guy like that around watching. It’s good to have a guy of his caliber.” Boswell can show … [Read more...] about Chris Boswell: Working with Shaun Suisham a step in the right direction
Worthing Thunder’s win over Nottingham Hoods ‘ a big step in the right direction’
Worthing Thunder’s comprehensive win over Nottingham Hoods over the weekend was a massive step in the right direction, says coach Josh Goddard. Thunder beat Nottingham 84-74 in the midlands, Sunday lunchtime, however minor blips allowed Hoods to claw their way back into the game late on, which made life a little rougher than it should have been for Worthing.But there was no denying Worthing’s superiority though, which Goddard attributes to his side communicating more at both ends of the floor.Goddard said: “Our defence was a lot better, we were communicating more and our rotations were a lot better. “There were lapses at times but it was definitely a big step in the right direction for how we want to be playing.”SEE ALSO Worthing Thunder breeze past Nottingham Hoods as Owumi stars | Badminton star Wong crowned Sussex champion | Joe Townsend and Teresa Bennett are honoured at Sussex Sports AwardsThunder led from start to finish, racing to a 20-6 lead after … [Read more...] about Worthing Thunder’s win over Nottingham Hoods ‘ a big step in the right direction’