PORTSMOUTH manager Graham Rix watched his side succumb to yet another embarrassing defeat and laid a large part of the blame on goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi.

Opponents Grimsby had won only once in their last 20 matches and played like it early on allowing Pompey to take an early lead - ironically through a goalkeeping error.

But then two clangers before half-time from Kawaguchi gifted the Mariners the lead, and from that point on they never looked back.

This defeat makes it five losses in six matches for Rix, who will again come under fire as he battles to save his job.

After the match he insisted: "I am sure there will be speculation but I don't feel in a pressurised situation."

Commenting on the match he said: "I think we were cruising and to come in at half time 2-1 down is difficult to swallow to say the least.

"We shouldn't have been in that situation and I thought we did well first half and should have come in comfortable.

"Instead we had to go out and chase the game, and it's always difficult when that happens.

"I think Yoshi was at fault for the first two goals. I think he should have done better with both of them.

"I don't think Grimsby created that much against us and I was pleased with the way the game was going.

"The lads are a little bit disappointed to say the least but we have to get on with it and get for the next match.

"We have got Wimbledon on Tuesday and we have to be ready for that match and try and win it."

Both of Kawaguchi's howlers were virtual carbon copies, with Darren Butterfield floating high right-wing free-kicks into the penalty area.

For the first one after 39 minutes, the Japanese goalkeeper rushed into a crowd of players, got his hands to ball but dropped it on to the grateful boot of Phil Jevons, who duly applied the finish.

Only two minutes before half-time Yoshi dropped another one, this time on to the head of Simon Ford.

Peter Crouch had given Pompey the lead when his near-post header somehow squirmed under the body of Danny Coyne and into the Grimsby net.

The game was sealed with 12 minutes remaining when Robert Prosinecki tracked back and brought down Ben Chapman in the area. Jevons coolly finished the penalty.

Pompey would have won this game without Yoshi's errors.

Grimsby lacked any confidence in front of goal but as soon as they scored they looked like a different team.

If it wasn't panic stations for Rix before the match, it is now. He might not feel in a pressurised situation but he is definitely in one.