PAUL Sturrock probably learned more about his players in 90 minutes yesterday than he has in three weeks on the training ground - and it's not all good.

When you're out on the pitch everything about your character is on show and there's nowhere to hide.

There were a few players in the Saints team yesterday who would have wanted to hide after game having let down the fans.

Sturrock was clearly not happy at all after the match and immediately promised changes for next week.

True to his word, it's been a fresh start for everybody at the club but he must be learning about his squad very quickly.

He has pinpointed the midfield as a problem area - it's simply not creative enough.

That was always a problem under Gordon Strachan but it seems emphasised more than ever now.

The shame of it, and the surprise as well, was that, in the run-up to the game, there was a lot of discussion over whether Stur-rock would go for skill players or grit players.

In the end, he mainly went for grit players but there wasn't much of that on show. It was limp.

And of all the games to play like that, this is the worse possible one for the supporters.

This is the time to stand up and be counted and show how much you want it - and you don't have to be a great footballer to do that.

It's in the heart and the head and that's why it's so disappointing.

Of course, it's never going to be easy playing Pompey at Fratton Park and the conditions were bad and Michael Svensson was ruled out minutes before kick-off.

But surely that was even more reason to fight for the cause.

The finger of blame can't be pointed at every player though and several did well.

In particular Kevin Phillips was again magnificent - a shining example of forward play and holding up the ball.

The only problem was there wasn't much point most of the time as he wasn't supported by people moving forward to give it to.

Sturrock has at his disposal Marian Pahars, Fabrice Fernandes and Leandre Griffit who can all create from midfield.

On the surface it would seem to take a brave man to play two of them the same side in case things go wrong but on the evidence of the last couple of games it's needed.

Pompey had the better of this game and, much like last week, Saints could and maybe should have been dead and buried by half time.

Teddy Sheringham was playing deep and intelligently deciding when to hold it up and when to flick it on.

Out and out front man Yakubu proved a real handful with Pompey playing direct and down the channels to give him something to chase with his awesome pace.

If only he could finish clinically he'd be up there with the best in the league.

Pompey's three best chances of the first half came in the space of three minutes.

On 17 minutes Sheringham's header found Yakubu who spun and got a shot in on goal. However, he connected poorly and hit it into the turf, taking the speed off the ball and making it comfortable for Antti Niemi to mop up.

Just a minute later Steve Stone played in Yakubu who looked offside but it wasn't given.

He had time and space to pick his spot and tried to curl it round Niemi and into the far corner but missed the target.

Chance number three went begging after 20 minutes as the ball broke to Sheringham in the box and he also hit into the turf, taking the sting off the ball.

Saints were rarely in the first half and their best chances came from long range efforts from Rory Delap that never really threatened.

Having been lucky to go in 0-0 at half time you would have thought Saints would come out fired up and all guns blazing for the second half.

But again it was Pompey in charge with Sheringham twice going close before Saints created a chance and James Beattie headed over.

On 68 minutes Pompey got the goal they deserved as Alexie Smertin found Stone who squared for Yakubu to side foot home from close range.

With ten minutes left Saints seemed to realise they needed a goal and played how you would have wanted from the start.

Phillips was always a problem and Shaka Hislop twice had to save from him before he was finally beaten.

This time though Phillips' brilliantly acrobatic flying scissor kick smashed the inside of the post and came out.

There time for one more chance from the head of Claus Lundekvam but Saints didn't deserve to get anything from the game.

Things need a bit of a shake-up but it seems Sturrock is not going to shy away from doing exactly that.