Duncan Barkes

Now, do you go along with a couple of people I was talking to after the game who said that John Massino himself has been saying that the only really problem position that Pompey have at this moment in time is who and how to play a number 10.

Play a number 10.

Agreed.

Have I asked you yet?

I can't remember whether you...

go along with John Massino saying that he wants to simply ration Shockness's actual game time on the pitch in order to protect him against further injury?

Absolutely not.

Middlesbrough, then, I'm going to predict that you're going to give us a heartwarming prediction, or at least a heartwarming possibility, up in the North East.

Go on.

Great, Steve.

As ever, thank you so much for all your insight and wisdom.

Take care.

John Massimio has announced that he intends to use Conor Shocknessy for Leicester and Ipswich in the same way that he was used in Pompey's two previous games.

The game time for the towering centre-half is being rationed in an attempt to prevent any recurrence of the injuries that have dogged him so far in his Pompey career.

The dilemma facing the Pompey head coach is whether to start shocknessy and rest him after 60 or 70 minutes, or to start him on the bench on a something of an impact sub, capable of affecting the game at the back, but also bringing much-needed aerial power to Pompey's attacking corners.

I've watched the replay back a number of times.

It's not a great challenge for me, though.

It's in the clumsy category rather than the reckless, dangerous categories.

So I feel it should have been a yellow card rather than a red.

I accept there are some people out there arguing so red fair enough I don't think there's any chance of an appeal being successful because it clearly is a yellow card and the bar to overturn a red is is very high.