Portsmouth boss Tony Adams admits he had words with Papa Bouba Diop after the midfielder gave away Liverpool's winning penalty last night.

Adams, in his first game in control after replacing new Spurs chief Harry Redknapp, would have been forgiven for resorting to tea-cup-throwing fury after Diop's crazy handball gave Liverpool the penalty that allowed Steven Gerrard to secure a 1-0 victory.

But Adams said: "I did not blame Diop afterwards. I gave him my opinion, though. I simply said that Sami Hyypia had got away from him, a yard clear, and he panicked.

"But he still had to get it past England's number one (David James), so he should have got his body in the way to put him off. I was trying to be technical with him rather than throwing a tea cup."

Adams, though, did not rule out an angrier approach in the future.

He said: "I am what I am. If I see something that needs to be thrown, I will throw it.

"I like being calm because you make clear decisions then. But I do get angry and I do not suppress it any more in alcohol."