A 2-0 defeat at Portsmouth is not the type of result that Manchester City boss Mark Hughes expects to have to contend with these days given the multitude of riches at his disposal. Yet the reverse on the road, thanks to goals from Glen Johnson and Hermann Hreidarsson, showed more holes that the former striker wants to see.

 

Brazilian’s Elano and Robinho performed wonders for their country in mid-week but failed to reach the same heights as Pompey rebounded from loosing Tony Adams by successfully nullifying the threat posed by the South American duo. But Hughes refused to be drawn into direct criticism of the pair rather concentrating on the shortcomings of his team as a whole.

“Basically you need a number of players playing at the top of their ability to Premier League games“ said the former Chelsea and Manchester United man,” if you don’t hit that level as a team you’ll get beaten and that’s what has happened today.”

City were booed from the field by their travelling army of fans and it must have been a long journey back to the North West for both followers and squad alike.