TOWN 1 PORTSMOUTH 3: McNamee shines in defeat

9:09am Saturday 19th July 2008

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ANTHONY McNamee admits he is a born entertainer but has been challenged by his manager to start stepping up his game away from home this campaign after dazzling in last night's 3-1 defeat to Portsmouth.

Town's right winger stole the show last night on a stage shared with the likes of David James, Peter Crouch and Jermaine Defoe but Maurice Malpas was quick to point out he is far from the complete player.

As McNamee beat Portsmouth's star-studded defence time and time again in a scintillating second half display it was clear to see why the former Watford man has quickly become a fans favourite at the County Ground.

But, yet to shine away from home, Malpas is urging his jewel in the crown' to start producing on a consistent basis as Town look to become a force in League One.

Simon Cox's penalty gave the hosts the lead on nine minutes but goals from Hermann Hreidarrson (37), a Defoe penalty (42) and Danijel Simbotic (90) saw the visitors leave with a somewhat flattering scoreline.

Town fans will be happy with what they saw though with Michael Timlin energetic in midfield, Simon Cox and Billy Paynter lively up front and Kevin Amankwaah solid at right back - but it was McNamee they were all talking about.

The winger said: "I enjoyed that. I felt I was playing well and when that happens I really enjoy my football.

"That is why I play football. If you take the entertaining part away from me, I don't think I would be interested in playing football.

"Away games are very different but I have to keep getting my crosses in, that is my job. If I can get five crosses in each half away from home then that is my job done really."

After showing in glimpses his potential in a quiet first half, the highlight a smart turn and shot that forced James into a good tip over, McNamee came alive after the break.

He beat Martin Cranie at will, producing cross after cross which should have created a deserved Town equaliser.

Eastleigh triallist Mark Marshall, Billy Paynter and Simon Cox were all guilty of spurning golden McNamee-inspired chances, while one stunning run and cross saw Sylvain Distin force a reflex save out of his own goalkeeper.

When he was finally withdrawn on 88 minutes, to the relief of the bemused Pompey defenders, he was given a deserved standing ovation but his manager Maurice Malpas is now demanding a more consistent player over the coming months.

"I think Macca deserved the standing ovation," he said. "He was a bit quiet first half but he turned up in the second half and the fans want to see that, we want to see that and he enjoys it.

"It is a case now of can we start sticking a few of his chances away. I think he put in more crosses himself than the rest of the Portsmouth team but they scored with a cross and we didn't.

"I think he has to improve away from home. I think he is a marked man as opposed to here but it is something we have to keep on working at. If we take him out of the team we take a lot of our drive forward away.

"A few times last season he was non-existent though and that is something we have to change."

While it was the FA Cup holders who enjoyed the majority of possession in the first half it was Town who created the better chances, after Cox had put them ahead with the hosts' first attack.

The striker was dragged down by Campbell in the area and he made no mistake from the spot for his fourth pre-season strike in as many games.

McNamee then had a shot turned over, Cox had an effort disallowed for offside and Paynter dallied in a reasonable shooting chance as Town created chances without ever playing that well.

A smart one-two and deft chip from Hreidarrson brought Redknapp's men level on 37 though before Defoe gave them the lead from the spot just five minutes later, after goalkeeper Peter Brezovan had brought down OJ Koroma.

A second half, littered with substitutions, saw Town dominate but the last word went to Portsmouth, who killed the game when Subotic rose high to head home Sulley Muntari's cross.

Peter Crouch made his debut at half time but it was McNamee who stole the limelight.

Town: Brezovan (Smith 45), Amankwaah (J Smith 63), Kanyuka (Ifil 45), Aljofree (Morrison 83), McGovern, Timlin, McNamee (Joyce 88), Allen (Marshall 45), Paynter, Cox (Sturrock 75) PORTSMOUTH: James (Begovic 45), Lauren (Cranie 45), Campbell (Distin 45), Pamarot, Hreidarrson (Traore 45), Mvuemba (Subotic 83), Mendes (Davies 45), Diop (Muntari), Hughes (Christophe 83), Defoe (Crouch 45), Koroma (Saha 45),