PAUL REVELS IN POMPEY SHOW
PORTSMOUTH manager Paul Cook agreed he would sit back and enjoy his side’s thumping victory at Colchester United, which consolidated their position in the League Two automatic promotion places.
Goals from Eoin Doyle, Kyle Bennett, Danny Rose and Michael Doyle secured a big away win at the play-off chasing U’s.
The three points keeps Pompey in third and ten points off leaders Doncaster Rovers.
Cook said: “As a club, we must enjoy these days.
“The painful ones are there for us all and as managers, we’ll get criticised – that’s the nature of the game we’re in.
“But I’m the same manager as I was last Saturday after getting beaten and I have great faith in my players.
“We’ve had a smashing day and it was a good win.
“It was a great away day for us as a club and with ten games to go, we’re doing OK and we just keep going.
“We’ll keep believing in what we’re doing and at the end of the season, that’s the time that we can all say for good or bad.”
Colchester head coach John McGreal admitted it was a difficult day for his side.
McGreal said: “It was a tough day for a young team, even against a team that’s been flying away from home. We’ll look back and take the positives if we can and if there were any.
“We’ll look back on the tape but I’ve been confident throughout the season and I’ll stay like that and keep pushing this team on.
“I thought that we started it quite brightly but they showed a lot of bravery at the right times and we showed a lot of naivety and took a backward step, really.
“Their bravery showed more and that’s what dictated the game.”
Colchester keeper Sam Walker denied Kai Naismith and Enda Stevens early on, while home defender George Elokobi had to clear from near his own goal-line when his teammate Matt Briggs had headed Naismith’s cross towards his own goal.
But Portsmouth went ahead midway through the first half. After Naismith had delivered the ball into the area, Eoin Doyle dived to head home from close range.
And Pompey doubled their lead in the opening minute of the second half when Bennett fired in from Naismith’s pass.
After Stevens had gone close with a deflected effort, Portsmouth went further ahead on the hour through Rose, who netted at the second attempt after initially being denied by Walker following Eoin Doyle’s through pass.
And Pompey wrapped up their comprehensive triumph with 17 minutes remaining through Michael Doyle, who was released by the impressive Naismith and followed up his effort which was saved by Walker.