James aiming to defy Boro

Goalkeeper David James is looking for his ninth clean sheet of the season against Middlesbrough on Tuesday night - with increasing optimism that his team are well placed for a shot at Europe.

With Pompey out of the FA Cup - gallantly beaten at Manchester United in the fourth round - James is fully focused on helping them maintain a top-six spot in the Barclays Premiership.

He said: "I thought I was going to get one [a clean sheet] at Old Trafford on Saturday and that is always an achievement."

He added: "We did so well until the last 13 minutes but then Wayne Rooney came off United's bench - and did what Wayne Rooney does. He scored two goals.

"If we had hassled him a bit more maybe he wouldn't have made that classic chip for his second goal but we have to forget that now and concentrate on trying to qualify for Europe.

"I genuinely believe it is a realistic target for us now. Nobody wants to go out of the FA Cup but perhaps it is just as well for us.

"Come March and April you can get distracted between league and cup and finish up missing out on everything.

"Now we are back at Fratton Park again where we fancy ourselves to beat anyone - even Manchester United. I don't think they would have been very happy about coming for a replay - or looking forward to visiting us in the Premiership.

"I think we can take a great deal of heart from the way we performed against them on Saturday. It was certainly a big improvement on November when we were battered 3-0."