Jackett admits Blues found it tough to see off Stevenage after shoot-out victory
KENNY JACKETT admitted Pompey found it tough after coming close to a Carabao Cup upset at the hands of League Two Stevenage.
The Blues turned in an abject first-half display to spark fears they could be eliminated by their hosts on Saturday.
Jackett’s men recovered from a two-goal deficit
- yet still had to rely on substitute Craig MacGillivray’s penalty shoot-out brilliance to send them through.
They were 3-1 down at the Lamex Stadium entering first-half stoppage time, before Gareth Evans’ penalty reduced the deficit.
Then John Marquis levelled on 51 minutes during an improved secondhalf display as the match finished 3-3.
They were unable to find a winner in the minutes that remained.
In the end it was left to MacGillivray, on for Alex Bass at half-time, to seal success by saving three of Stevenage’s four penalties as Pompey clinched a 3-1 victory.
But that was only after the Blues had been pushed all the way against a team who finished bottom of the
Football League last season.
Jackett said: ‘It was an exciting game to some degree, end to end and full of chances.
‘Stevenage played well, they were a handful in the early part of the game. Coker has good delivery with his left foot and they have four or five very big lads and it was tough for us.
‘We got to grips with it better as the game went on.
‘Sean was disappointed with the first half when he got a shout, but it looked a bit of hesitation.
‘The second and third goals were unenforced errors and ones we could have dealt with and we are disappointed with that.
‘Similarly, though, we kept going, and got some good goals coming back. ‘Ronan Curtis’ was an excellent goal just inside the box on his right foot and the penalty on the stroke of half-time gave us some momentum for the second half and to have a good go.
‘In the second half we looked the better side, found some rhythm, found some momentum and got an excellent goal from John Marquis.
‘We couldn’t quite get that winner, but it’s nice to see us win a penalty shootout after Oxford.
‘And some fantastic saves from Craig.’
Pompey found themselves 3-1 down inside the half-hour mark at Stevenage