Eriksson not giving up on play-off dream

Leicester manager Sven-Goran Eriksson has vowed his side will battle on in their bid to reach the play-offs after their disappointing defeat to Portsmouth.

Dave Nugent's 13th-minute goal proved the difference between the two sides at the Walkers Stadium, despite the Foxes having more than their fair share of scoring opportunities.

But Foxes chief Eriksson refused to criticise his disappointing side after the defeat, and insisted they would continue to fight for an unlikely play-off place.

"It's a very disappointing result. But from our performance over 90 minutes we did enough to get at least a draw. We created some good chances.

"I can't criticise the team. They tried hard enough. They stood up and battled against a very physical team."

The result handed Portsmouth an excellent eighth clean sheet in their last nine Championship fixtures, an unsurprising stat given the impressive defensive display put on by the south coast side.

Eriksson remained adamant his side's top-six hopes were not over just yet, however, but conceded that the Foxes have serious work to do if they are to challenge for promotion.

"It is still possible, but unfortunately we now have one game less,' Eriksson said.

"But while it is still mathematically possible we are still going to fight for it, starting away at Middlesbrough in two weeks' time.

"We still have hope but we must show the same spirit we showed today and last week against Scunthorpe."

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