STANLEY boss John Coleman kept his players locked in the dressing room for more than hour following their 4-0 defeat against 10-man Portsmouth.

The Reds started brightly but it was Pompey who took the lead when Mahlon Romeo worked a one-two with Harness and the cross was met by Hirst to put the ball beyond goalkeeper Toby Savin.

It looked to be disaster for Pompey when Harness was shown a straight red card for a lunge on Ross Sykes, but the hosts added a second goal when a Ryan Tunnicliffe corner was met with a firm Sean Raggett header into the bottom corner.

Another Tunnicliffe corner found Hirst’s head for a third goal and after running the length of the pitch, O’Brien set up Tunnicliffe to complete a comfortable win.

Coleman said: “Portsmouth were far more clinical and took their chances.

“They had four shots on target and scored four goals. We have got this thing at the moment where we more of less beat ourselves.

“Portsmouth were better than us so well done to them, but we have got to be better in every department.

“Their first goal was a cheap one to give away. Then they go to 10 men and we know we are going to have all the ball and we concede from two set plays.

“We were so disjointed with our play and this is the third game away from home where we haven’t scored.

“In those three games we have had 68 shots, so we must be doing something wrong.”

The result leaves Coleman’s men 12th in the League One table, having lost three of their last four matches.

The Reds are back in action on Saturday, March 12 when they welcome Charlton to the Wham Stadium (KO 3pm).