ALAN BALL is all too aware of the threat from the skies and that vengeance may rain down from the heavens.

Ball's concern is that word has got around about his team's apparent weakness against crosses and that teams will try to cash in on it.

The Pompey boss is fully aware of his side's shortcomings, as exposed by Manchester City in Wednesday night's 4-2 defeat Maine Road.

"That was the only weak part of our game," said Ball. Everything else was fine. But defending against crosses in your penalty area just happens to be a pretty important part of the game," said Ball.

"We haven't looked good defending balls crossed into our area, either from open play or from set pieces. It's something that concerns me and is something we have to work on."

Ball and central defender Andy Awford will be fully aware that in Allan Johnston and Brian Hughes, Birmingham City have two wide men who can potentially cause as much damage as City's Mark Kennedy did on Wednesday - if they're allowed too.

"There are two elements to defending crosses. One is making sure you're strong and attack the ball when they come in, which is something we haven't been doing. And the other is to try and make sure they don't come in in the first place."

Maine Road's wide open spaces meant City were able to isolate their wingers one-on-one on the Pompey full-backs, scotching Ball's plan to double up on them, but he'll be looking for his wide midfield men to provide a bit more cover down the flanks.

In Brazilian striker Marcelo, Birmingham have a man who can threaten up top like Gareth Taylor did on Wednesday, and that may just tempt Ball into throwing Norwegian loan signing Tommy Berntsen into the fray.

Berntsen was given just ten minutes on Wednesday but in that time showed his power in the air by setting up a chance for Guy Whittingham.

Ball also has a problem up front where Lee Bradbury serves a suspension after picking up five bookings.

With Rory Allen nowhere near fitness and Luke Nightingale recovering after having his broken nose set, Guy Whittingham is likely to partner Steve Claridge up front, with Steve Lovell providing the bench cover.

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