JACKETT REELING AFTER COX FIGHTBACK
PORTSMOUTH manager Kenny Jackett cut a frustrated figure after seeing his side surrender a three-goal lead at Southend.
Third-placed Portsmouth seemed set for a comfortable victory after scoring three times inside the opening 31 minutes through Bryn Morris, Ben Close and Oli Hawkins.
But a Simon Cox hat-trick saw the Shrimpers secure a share of the spoils to extend Portsmouth’s winless streak to six matches. And Jackett was downbeat at the final whistle.
“To be 3-0 up and ultimately not win the game is very disappointing, we understand that,” said Jackett.
“The team-sheet showed not many defensive players for both sides and I did think it would be quite open.
“It was a game with a lot of chances and a lot of goals and that was the case right from the first minute to the end.
“We’ve got ourselves in a great position and it could’ve been further with a disallowed goal decision against us, as well as a handball at the end.
“But we’re disappointed because we should see these games out.”
Portsmouth took the lead after just eight minutes when Jamal Lowe’s right-wing cross was fumbled by Southend goalkeeper Nathan Bishop, enabling Morris to slam the ball home from close range.
The visitors doubled their lead in the 21st minute when Close sent a low 20-yard shot into the bottom right corner of the net, before Omar Bogle saw an effort ruled out for offside.
But, in the 31st minute, Portsmouth made it 3-0 with Hawkins netting from close range after Morris’ shot had bounced back off a post.
Southend got a goal back in the 36th minute with Cox heading home Sam Hart’s left-wing cross and the experienced striker then netted a 78th-minute penalty after Michael Kightly had been fouled by Morris.
The striker made it 3-3 three minutes from time to complete his first hat-trick in seven years with a fine curling effort after being teed up by Timothee Dieng. That left manager Chris Powell in a happier mood than at half-time.
“It’s huge for us,” said Powell. “Obviously we wanted to win, but after half an hour it was one of the most difficult situations we’ve been in in a long time.
“It was poor defending from us, but the players have shown great courage, determination and character to come back.
“We tried to give them belief at halftime, but it was all about the next goal.
“Nathan Bishop made a save just after half-time that was important and I think people might have forgotten about that. But Coxy has been great.
“He’s taken on the mantle of leading by example and took his goals really well.”
SOUTHEND UNITED: Bishop 6, Bowmono 5, Moore 6, Turner 6, Hart 6, Dieng 6, Mantom 6 (Hutchinson 73, 7), Humphrys 6 (Klass 25, 6), Kightly 7 (Pitoula-Wabo 82, 6), Cox 9, McLaughlin 7. Subs not used: Kiernan, Smith, Lennon, Kelman.
PORTSMOUTH: MacGillivray 6, Walkes 6, Brown 6, Burgess 6, Clarke 5, Lowe 6 (Vaughan 89), Close 8, Morris 7, Solomon-Otabor 7 (Curtis 71, 5), Bogle 6 (Evans 75, 5), Hawkins 7. Subs not used: Casey, Haunstrup, May.