Jackett hails determined Portsmouth - 7M sport

Jackett hails determined Portsmouth



Posted Monday, April 22, 2019 by PA

Jackett hails determined Portsmouth

Portsmouth manager Kenny Jackett hailed his side’s fighting qualities after the League One promotion-chasers came from behind to beat Coventry 2-1.

Captain Brett Pitman struck seven minutes from time to earn Pompey a seventh straight league victory.

It was the second time in four days Pompey had staged a dramatic late show after beating Burton in stoppage time on good Friday.

Jackett said: “These are not easy games. Coventry are very free-flowing, playing without any pressure and started the game really well.

“They frustrated us in the first half, were very quick on the counter-attack and by half-time deserved their lead.

“Too many of our players lacked energy and it is very easy to look like that at this stage of the season.

“In the second half we showed good determination to keep going and grew into the game. We kept the pressure on them all of the time and got the crowd behind us.

“Tom Naylor and Brett Pitman, two of our most important and experienced players, got the decisive strikes which got us the win.”

Pompey looked leggy in the first half and fell behind after only nine minutes to Jordy Hiwula’s well-taken opener.

Hiwula turned nearly before firing past Craig MacGillivray from Amadou Bakayoko’s threaded through-ball.

Pompey made a double change at half-time, bringing on Republic of Ireland winger Ronan Curtis and on-loan Wigan striker James Vaughan.

The substitutions paid off when Naylor headed in Lee Brown’s corner to make it 1-1 in the 64th minute.

And Pitman then sent a sell-out Fratton Park crowd into raptures by bagging the winner in the 83rd minute.

The former Bournemouth striker swept home from midway inside the penalty area after Coventry goalkeeper Lee Burge had flapped at Curtis’ cross.

The defeat as good as ends Coventry’s faint hopes of snatching a play-off place.

Manager Mark Robins said: “We’ve come and played and that’s been a really good performance, it’s just disappointing we haven’t come out on top or got anything from the game.

“We’ve got a good team and a good group of players that are almost there.

“We play a really good brand of football, the supporters are behind them, it’s just that extra bit that we have got to try and get right for next season.

“Portsmouth just had those extra couple of players across the pitch that have that extra couple of years under their belts.

“I think it was a good game, the condition of the pitch was outstanding and the way in which we played on it was pleasing, we have just failed to come out on top and see the job through.

“But there is no way we deserved to get nothing from that game.”

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