Jackett tries to lift players after missing out on automatic promotion

Posted Wednesday, May 01, 2019 by PA

Portsmouth manager Kenny Jackett told his players they need to rally themselves for the play-offs after Peterborough’s action-packed 3-2 win at Fratton Park ended their automatic promotion dream.

Ivan Toney struck twice to keep Posh’s hopes of a top-six finish alive and send Luton and Barnsley into the Sky Bet Championship at Pompey’s expense.

Jackett said: “We did well to claw the game back to 2-2 and then the game went end to end. We had some key moments but they got the decisive one.

“I thought we played with good enthusiasm, passion. We gave it everything but it did not work out for us and the players are very disappointed.

“I have told them they can be disappointed tonight and tomorrow but on Thursday morning we come in and have to get over that.

“We are not going up automatically, it’s the play-offs and we have to be ready for that. We have to always come back from that.”

Pompey started the game well only for Lee Tomlin to give Peterborough the lead against the run of play in the 13th minute.

Marcus Maddison led a quick counter-attack before pulling back a cross for Tomlin to sweep in from 12 yards.

Toney doubled the visitors’ advantage with a powerful header from Maddison’s corner 14 minutes later to leave the home crowd stunned.

Ben Close gave Pompey hope seven minutes before half-time with a deflected long-range shot which left goalkeeper Aaron Chapman wrong-footed.

The comeback was complete 14 minutes after half-time as defender Christian Burgess converted from close range after Peterborough failed to deal with Lee Brown’s free-kick.

Substitute Viv Solomon-Otabor had a goal ruled out after needlessly running himself offside before Toney had the final word 15 minutes from time.

Toney fired home from an acute angle of the corner of the penalty area after Pompey had again been caught on the break.

Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson said: “It was a really good start from us. We knew Portsmouth would have a lot of the ball and it was important we didn’t get spooked by that.

“Even when they equalised I felt we were going to be a real threat on the counter-attack and I knew they would keep on attacking.

“Ivan scoring two was a massive bonus because he has not been on it recently but he took his goals brilliantly.

“It was a very mature performance and we go on to the last game of the season with all to play for.

“We need to dig a result out and see if it can get us in the play-offs.

“I wasn’t happy with everything tonight but credit to the players because they showed they will give everything to make the top six.”