Awford wants togetherness

Andy Awford called for unity after his Portsmouth side's two-month winless run was extended by a 2-1 defeat at home to Southend.

The promotion-chasing Shrimpers came from behind to snatch the points thanks to goals from Ryan Leonard and Joe Piggott after Adam Webster had given struggling Pompey an early lead in a contest which featured two late dismissals, one for either side. The defeat heaps the pressure on Awford after chairman Iain McInnes described the game as a "must win" in his pre-match programme notes. Defiant Awford said: "It was another frustrating afternoon. There was not a lot in the game and it is fine margins. "I don't think we deserved to win but we are disappointed to be beaten. "Getting in front was big for us and the stats tell you the team that score the first goal usually go on and win but their goals knocked the stuffing out of us. "We have to keep believing it will turn and that things will go for us. We have to stick together like glue, everybody in the dressing room and for the club. "We have not won in an awful long time. It is a tough time for everybody and we have to start turning half-decent performances into results. "I understand there is a pressure that comes with being a manager and I take full responsibility for the team." Pompey started strongly and turned their dominance into a goal when Webster rose highest to head home a Craig Westcarr free-kick in the 24th minute. Pompey led for just five minutes before Leonard escaped the attentions of the home back-line to coast in and cushion the ball into the back of the net after a header across goal from David Worrall. Pigott bagged the winner 19 minutes from time after picking up on a knock-down from Barry Corr, before seeing his deflected attempt find the back of the net. The Shrimpers played out the final six minutes with 10 men after Corr was sent off for picking up a second yellow card for kicking the ball away while home striker Paul McCallum was dismissed for fighting in the dying seconds. Southend manager Phil Brown praised his men for winning in front of a noisy crowd. He said: "Every time you come to Portsmouth it's always a nervous encounter because of the crowd. "The crowd are constantly up, they're constantly at it. People say you can quiet them by scoring a goal or playing good football, but they don't go quiet. "For us to come in level at half-time was important. "The only downside today was another red card. I don't know whether they're micromanaging me or whether they're micromanaging my team, but it was very, very harsh again. "That's our fifth red card in seven games and we haven't lost any of those games, so maybe it's the secret."