Conceding from set-pieces has to change - Poole

Portsmouth defender Regan Poole says his side are going to face "an uphill battle" this season if they continue to concede set-piece goals.

Tuesday's 3-0 defeat at Bramall Lane saw Pompey concede twice from Sheffield United's first five corners, leaving them 20th in the table, two points outside the relegation zone.

"It's a problem, of course," Poole told BBC Radio Solent. "It's something that needs to change, otherwise we're going to be fighting an uphill battle every game because teams are going to target it. We need to be better, we need to be stronger."

Portsmouth have now conceded 10 set-piece goals in their opening 17 matches, and Poole knows it can't go on if they're to stay in the Championship.

"Another two set-pieces tonight changes the game completely. Especially as a centre-half it's definitely not what I want to be conceding.

"Up until the 40th minute they didn't have a shot on goal. It's something that needs to change, we know that, but only we can change it on the pitch."

Portsmouth had travelled to south Yorkshire buoyed by Saturday's impressive home win over high-flying Millwall, but were unable to build on the momentum.

"I think we've been better away from home this season. Tonight, it's a bit of a tough one as we went down to 10 men, and didn't lose 11 against 11," Poole said.

"Bar the Birmingham game (a 4-0 defeat), this is the only time we've conceded a couple of goals and properly lost. We've been in every other game.

"It is obviously up and down. It's not like last year at all, but in terms of going from the weekend to this is tough."

Pompey face another challenging assignment this Saturday lunchtime as promotion-chasing Bristol City visit Fratton Park, but Poole is seeing the positives.

"At least we've got another game Saturday. It's not nice sitting on a loss like this, but we'll be looking to go and win and make it a six-point week, and things won't be looking too bad."