PORT & LEMONS
Cowley despair as Pompey blow play-off bid on final day
DANNY COWLEY admitted Portsmouth did not deserve to reach the playoffs after their final-day slump.
Pompey went into the clash with Accrington knowing a win would secure sixth spot.
But they were unable to reply to Adam Phillips’ firsthalf goal (above).
“Let’s be brutally honest, because I think you have to be in these moments, we’ve come up short,” said boss Cowley. And we’ve probably finished where the team and the playing deserve to finish.
“We’re bitterly disappointed, we weren’t good enough. We all have to feel the pain and disappointment of that. We lost our way after the first 10 minutes and I was disappointed with the intensity and the purpose of our approach in the first half.
“We weren’t brave enough on the ball. We didn’t play with enough personality. We improved in the second half but once you are a goal behind it’s hard.”
Cowley was appointed on a short-term deal in March, replacing Kenny Jacket, but wants the chance to lead the club into squad
DM1ST next season along with his assistant and brother Nicky.
He said: “We would love to stay. We came in when the team was in tenth and were very fortunate to take over a Kenny Jackett team.
“We’re obviously disappointed we haven’t been able to get over the line today. We’ll dust ourselves down and we’ll come back stronger.”
Phillips scored midway through the first half and Pompey could have been 2-0 down at the break, with Colby Bishop’s header ruled out for offside.