After defeat to Bolton Wanderers, Portsmouth boss Paul Hart insists his new-look team will get better.

Hart said: "I'm not trying to make excuses but we have only built our side in the last two weeks.

"Everybody else has had the whole summer to sort it out.

"We realise that but all we can do is concentrate on the positives that were in that performance.

"This has been a very hard and frustrating six months. It's not only us who have suffered the frustrations; it's the supporters as well.

"We've brought in some good players only a week ago and have tried to assemble them.

"I will defend those players I've brought in because I think they are good players. They have all got something to prove."