Defoe anger after Adams snub

Tony Adams admits the Portsmouth striker Jermain Defoe was fuming after being left on the bench in the 1-0 defeat at Arsenal on Sunday.

Jermain Defoe started on the bench on Sunday.

Tony Adams admitted the Portsmouth striker Jermain Defoe was fuming after being left on the bench in the 1-0 defeat at Arsenal on Sunday. Defoe is rumoured to be the subject of a big bid by a rival Premier League club in the January transfer window. But Adams left his key striker on the substitutes bench until two minutes from the end, despite Portsmouth going down to their fourth league defeat in a row to a late header from the former Arsenal captain William Gallas.

Adams, who insisted Portsmouth had received no bids for Defoe, said: "Jermain was really annoyed with me for leaving him out and he is still angry with me now - and I wouldn't want it any other way to be honest. It was tactical. He might have got a point. "He could easily turn round to me and say 'Look, you got it wrong boss because you lost.' But it's not easy being a manager and you have to make difficult decisions.

"He's a fantastic player, scores great goals but at the moment we are struggling with balance. Away at Liverpool and at Arsenal I chose to keep him on the bench. Those are my reasons, and speculate all you want but I've had no offers for Jermain Defoe, not one." * PA Sport