Pompey manager Tony Pulis took out some insurance yesterday, even though he reckons he can see the finishing post in sight.

Pulis was one of the busier managers on deadline day, completing three transactions.

In to Fratton Park came keeper Russell Hoult and Bradford defender Andy Myers, while to redress the balance, Pulis sold midfielder Sammy Igoe to Reading.

Hoult's drawn-out transfer saw him eventually signed on a further month's loan from Derby to skate round the deadline, but he will complete a £300,000 permanent move some time next week, which will provide him with a three-year contract.

Myers, 26, will provide Pulis with the competition he needs in the centre of his defence. The former Chelsea defender and England Under-21 international has been unable to hold down a permanent place in the Bantams' line-up despite their Premiership struggles and he has the rest of the season to impress Pulis enough to persuade him to give him a permanent contract.

"We had to get the goalkeeping and central defensive situations sorted out," said Pulis, who refused to confirm whether Hoult would go straight back into the line-up after missing Tuesday night's win over West Bromwich Albion.

"Signing those two has given me competition and cover in places where we need it. Another three or four wins should see us safe but one thing we can't afford to do is take our foot off the gas," said Pulis who was unable to complete his wish-list by signing a striker.

The responsibility for firing the goals to ride Pompey to safety could rest with Rory Allen.

"We tried high and low to bring in a striker, but I wasn't going to sign somebody just for the sake of it. Rory is just around the corner from full fitness and as the club paid a million pounds for him at the start of the season it's only right that we should go with him."

Pompey have a couple of injury concerns going into the game with Adie Whitbread nursing a foot injury and both Thomas Thogersen and Kevin Harper struggling with groin injuries picked up against Albion.

Both Thogersen and Harper were rated at only 50-50 at one point but Pulis said: "They have improved over the past day and I'm confident they'll both be available for selection."

One man who won't be is Sammy Igoe who ended his ten-year association with the club by joining Reading in a deal which will see them pay £150,000 down with more to add with appearances.

Since breaking into the first-team during Jim Smith's reign Igoe has made 148 league starts and was once rated a £2 million player by the Bald Eagle. But Igoe found himself increasingly on the outside as Pulis's rebuilding took shape.

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