Calamity for Pompey after David James error

Down and out: David James after his howler

13 April 2012

Portsmouth's trip to Germany started in farce and ended in calamity - but Tony Adams insists his team will bounce back from last night's UEFA Cup exit.

Pompey's air carrier went bust hours before they were due to fly out on Wednesday, leaving the squad grounded for several hours.

And goalkeeper David James ensured a miserable trip home as he gifted Wolfsburg a horrific winner in the 3-2 defeat.

The teams had shared four goals in the first 23 minutes of their Group E match - Jermain Defoe and Arnold Mvuemba scoring for Pompey - but with 16 minutes left James passed straight to Zvjezdan Misimovic, who couldn't miss an empty net.

Adams said: "We move on, we take the positives and we will try to improve defensively, try to stop making mistakes and go into the West Brom game on Sunday and try to pick up three points."

Meanwhile, a below-strength Aston Villa lost 2-1 at home to Slovakian side MSK Zilina but still qualified for the last 32.

Manager Martin O'Neill said: "When we set out in the Intertoto Cup there was a long way to go.

"We're delighted to be through to the knockout stages."