High praise for Pedro Mendes

“Pedro back to his best” says Portsmouth coach

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp has praised midfielder Pedro Mendes, saying that the Portuguese looked back to his best during the recent win over Derby County.

Mendes has had a difficult season so far at Fratton Park, with increased competition for places and loss of form seeing the former Porto man dropped to the bench at times, but Redknapp selected the midfielder for the 3-1 victory over Derby on Saturday.

It proved a good decision, with Mendes playing his part in all three goals, including a vintage pass for the third, leading Redknapp to praise his display on Wednesday. “Pedro played well alongside Diarra in the centre of midfield. I think they had confidence in each other and the ball,” said the Pompey coach.

“I said to Pedro before the game that we needed a performance from him and that’s what he produced. He passed the ball about nicely which is what I want to see.

“There’s no point in having four good footballers in our midfield if we don’t pass the ball about. What’s the point in selecting players like Pedro if you’re just going to whack it long?

“Pedro has had a few injuries and has been a bit stop-start so he needed a couple of games under his belt. But he looked back to his best against Derby.”

With midfielders Sulley Muntari and Papa Bouba Diop away on international duty at the African Cup of Nations, there will be increased pressure on Mendes to continue his run of good form in Pompey’s upcoming matches, which begin with an FA Cup tie with Plymouth on the weekend, before a tough double-header against Manchester United and Chelsea.