Reds are a wounded animal ready to bounce back against Preston North End on Saturday says defender Mat Sadler.

Mat, who admits the lads were bitterly disappointed not to put in a winning performance against Pompey on Sunday, also added the rest has come at a good time.

He said: “We were confident of coming away with three points in front of a fantastic crowd and we really wanted to do them justice.

“We were comfortable with ten men, sometimes being the team 11 can be a disadvantage.

“We felt like we had a threat up top and as the game wore on we felt we could get something, but the second sending off meant it was backs to the wall.”

It’s been a fantastic start to the season for Reds, and Mat believes the defeat is just a minor setback.

“If they (the fans) keep following us there will be many more positive days to come, this was just a blip in what I foresee to be a successful season,” Mat added.

“Hopefully we will anger that disappointment into the game, a tough one, against Preston on Saturday.

“I think it’s a good thing (having no midweek game), it will give us a bit of a rest.

“There’ll be a few tired lads but we will all be chomping at the bit to beat Preston on Saturday now.”