OSCAR ESCAPES AS DOCKYARD DERBY SUFFERS STALEMATE
DEREK Adams believes Plymouth are in an ideal position to clinch a play-off spot despite being held by promotion rivals Portsmouth.
Pilgrims defender Oscar Threlkeld breathed a huge sigh of relief after almost gifting the visitors a 90th-minute winner when he rattled his own bar with a header.
But Plymouth survived a late onslaught to remain in the play-off places having been bottom of the table at the start of December.
Adams insists his side deserved to take all three points and accused Portsmouth of negative play.
The Pilgrims chief said: “Portsmouth didn’t create very much but we obviously hit our own bar at the end.
“For long spells, we dominated possession and I am disappointed not to have won it.
“I thought Portsmouth looked a bit leggy. They sat in, came for a point and got what they wanted.
“I was surprised how defensive they were, I expected them to come out and have a go and they didn’t really do that.
“We were one pass away from getting in and it would have been no more than we deserved.
“We are in a fantastic position. It is another point on the board and other teams have lost.”
A cagey opening half-hour was a triumph of endeavour over genuine quality.
Both sides squandered possession cheaply and lacked any penetration.
It took until the 31st minute for a shot on target as Jamal Lowe’s effort was easily gathered by Plymouth’s stand-in keeper Kyle Letheren.
Moments later, the winger’s cross presented Brett Pitman with a glorious chance to break the deadlock but the 22-goal hitman contrived to scuff the ball into Letheren’s hands.
On half-time, Argyle had penalty appeals turned down when Ruben Lameiras went down after tangling with Matthew Clarke. Referee Dean Whitestone was having none of it and furious Pompey defender Jack Whatmough confronted the
grounded striker over his claims for a spot-kick.
Plymouth raised the tempo after the break and increasingly pinned Pompey back in their own half as they went in search of the opener.
Graham Carey twice lifted shots over the bar before the playmaker forced keeper Luke McGee into a comfortable save at his near post.
Lowe continued to carry Portsmouth’s biggest threat but he was off balance as he got on the end of Gareth Evans’ cross only to see his header fly wide.
Portsmouth swept forward in the closing stages and looked more likely to snatch a winner.
First, Lowe’s scuffed effort looked to be trickling into the far corner of the net until Pilgrims defender Zak Vyner made a crucial goalline clearance.
The hosts were creaking under the pressure and Threlkeld suffered a rush of blood in trying to cut out a cross and was saved by the crossbar.
The right-back knew he had got away with it as Plymouth remain on course for a top-six finish, boasting a one-point cushion over Pompey with a game in hand.
The draw stretched Portsmouth’s unbeaten run to six games and boss Kenny Jackett said: “I have no complaints with the result.
“I thought Jamal Lowe’s shot was going in but it was a great goalline clearance from the Plymouth defender. It looked like Jamal had scored.
“Then, hitting the bar is a good sign of finishing the game strongly
“It was a good period for us and the fitness and commitment of our side really shone through .
“I don’t think the draw does either side a great deal of good, but it doesn’t do them any harm either.
“From our point of view, our season is still ahead of us.”