Pompey skipper left counting the cost of first-half display
CLARK ROBERTSON admitted Pompey’s first-half frailties weredecisiveastheBlues ended the season on a disappointing note.
A 4-1 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, coupled with results elsewhere, condemned Danny Cowley’s men to finishing 10th in League
One.
Realistically, their Hillsborough encounter was over at half time, having trailed 3-1 following poor defensive play.
Despite George Hirst opening the scoring with his 15th goal of the season, the Owls hit back through Lee Gregory, Saido Berahino and Jordan Storey.
Irrespective of a better second-half display, George Byers’ late header completed the emphatic scoreline.
And Robertson criticised his team’s defending in the opening 45 minutes.
The Blues’ skipper told The News: ‘Obviously it’s a disappointing way to end the season.
‘That first half definitely cost us. When you concede three goals in any half of football you are going to find it difficult to come back.
‘We took the lead and actually played well for the first 10-15 minutes, then the game became stretched for some reason.
‘The gaps were too big, wedidn’tmatchthem physically for long periods of thegame.Thegoalswe conceded are unlike us, three were from set-pieces.
‘We have got to defend set-pieces better, conceding on three of them is unlike us, we’ve overall been decent on defending them this season.
‘We were better in the second half, we had a few chances, such as Raggs’
(Sean Raggett’s) header, George Hirst’s one-on-one withthekeeper,butitwasn’t enough on the day.’
Robertson rued failing to capitalise on the perfect start handed to Pompey by Hirst.
He added: ‘Sheffield Wednesday are a good side, we knew it was going to be difficult, but I felt if we quietenedthecrowdearlyon it would help.
‘So to concede three goals before half time is disappointing.
‘There were gaps back to front,wedidn’tsqueezeup
the pitch enough to limit their space, and they have good players in the pockets like Barry Bannan and GeorgeByers.
‘We weren’t at it in the first half and in the second
half wewereabitbetter,but not near our best.’