DOWIE WATCH: So how did the new manager get on in his first match in charge of his new club?

Team Selection

There were three changes from the final game of Phil Brown's reign with the biggest surprise being the return of Caleb Folan. The striker had not started since August due to having fallen out of favour under Brown but he justified the recall by netting twice. How much he knew about the opener is debatable, but the manner in which the former Leeds reserve beat David James for his second showed Dowie got that decision spot on. Otherwise, the only other big decision was who should partner Steven Mouyokolo at the heart of the defence in the absence of the injured Kamil Zayette with Paul McShane getting the nod.

Tactics

Clearly, Dowie believes in playing positively with the side he sent out being attack-minded and, most encouragingly of all after far too many away games in the past year where City have employed a solitary frontman, a twin-pronged strikeforce. Against the home side's 4-2-3-1 formation, he opted for 4-4-2 and was rewarded with the Tigers scoring two goals away from home for only the second time this season.

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Team performance

City deserved reward for their efforts, though any praise due to the players is also tempered by Portsmouth being comfortably the worst team in the top flight. The visitors impressed going forward, though once again the defence was a major concern.

Substitutions

Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink had hit the post after just three minutes but, otherwise, his contribution was minimal so it was no surprise when he was taken off on 64 minutes and replaced by Nicky Barmby. The Tigers veteran put in a typically hard-working shift, but it was the other substitute Richard Garcia who had by far the more telling impact on the game. First, he set up Caleb Folan's second goal with a sublime pass only to then undo that good work by committing the error that led to Portsmouth's winner.

Body language

Dowie is a tracksuit manager in the traditional mould so the headpiece and smart suit of his predecessor were nowhere to be seen. He also seems to be the sort of manager who kicks every ball from the sidelines, taking just 90 seconds for the new Tigers man to march to the touchline and bark orders to his players. Boaz Myhill's failure to deal with an innocuous cross also incurred the wrath of Dowie, who was constantly on his feet trying to direct operations on the field. At the final whistle, Dowie, pictured right, put his disappointment aside to console the City players and point them toward the 1,200 or so fans who had made the long trip south.

Overall verdict

As Dowie himself said, it was a rollercoaster of emotion on his bow as City manager. The Tigers snatching defeat from the jaws of victory also underlined just what he is up against and supporters will be hoping he can somehow eradicate the silly individual errors that, far too often this season, have proved to be the club's undoing. With the clock ticking towards relegation, Dowie has to act fast.