Speaking in the aftermath of the 1-0 defeat at Fratton Park, Bolton Wanderers manager Gary Megson explained that he felt his team should have held on to claim a goalless draw.
Megson revealed his disappointment in the manner that Bolton conceded the only goal of the contest - a 78th minute winner by Kanu.
"The intension wasn't to get a point but I don't think we played particularly well today," said the Wanderers boss.
"I think at this stage of the season you are looking for a result and we should have got a nil-nil from that. Portsmouth didn't do a huge amount, they were direct up to Peter Crouch but after the first five or ten minutes we had sorted that out.
"We had to reorganise following the injury to Bibi (Gardner) but the goal we conceded was below par and it's three goals that we have conceded from set pieces in the last two games. That hadn't been happening for the main part of the season and today's goal wasn't even a header or anything clever.
"We usually out-run and out-boss the opposition in terms of effort and desire. Today we weren't bossed by Portsmouth but we were matched.
"When that kind of game goes on today we have got to try and draw it nil-nil, and at the moment we are finding a way of turning draws into defeats. Even the Chelsea game last week, the goals we gave away have no place in the Premier League."
The manager is also hoping that the extent of Ricardo Gardner's injury isn't too serious. The Jamaican international was forced from the field on eleven minutes after sustaining a problem with to his left hamstring.
"When he's had a scan we'll assess that," added Megson. "At the moment we know it's his hamstring so it's a problem to us because he's started scoring one or two goals for us and he's our most creative player with the ball at his feet. Hopefully it's not bad.
"We had to change it and we became more solid but we didn't want to become more solid - we lost a little bit of that impact that Bibi can give us."
During the second half, the manager altered his formation up-front, switching Kevin Davies into a more central role with Johan Elmander occupying a position on the right.
Explaining the tactical change, Megson said: "With the size and physique of Distin and Campbell, I just thought that Davo (Davies) may cause them one or two more problems.
"Hermann Hreidarsson has been a great servant at everywhere he has been, but he is not the quickest player on the pitch. We thought that if we could isolate Hermann with Johan then we might get a bit of joy but it didn't happen."
