Jackett: I was set for replay
PORTSMOUTH boss Kenny Jackett admitted he’d have been more than happy to take a replay against Rochdale as Sunday’s FA Cup second round clash entered the closing stages.
In the end, Andre Green’s deflected 90th minute goal proved enough to send Pompey through – but it was a tough tie for the visitors.
Jackett said: “I felt the first half we were the better side and I felt the second half Rochdale were.
“It looked liked our way and our path of progressing in the Cup was to get a hard-earned draw here and then to take them back to Fratton Park, which, if you can’t win, I would have accepted because that’s the third time we have been here in recent months and it was always going to be a hard game – and it proved to be the case.
“It was quick thinking from Lee Brown to take the free-kick and it’s great for Andre to get his time with us up and ruining after injury.
“Hopefully this will really kick-start his time with us.
“In our first-half period, when we were up, we weren’t as clinical as we usually are and didn’t give us the lead to go for.
“We knew what to expect coming here having beaten them in the league and they had a game plan for us to negate our threats,.
“Rochdale were always going to swing back into the game.
“You always have to dig in, there are no easy wins, it doesn’t work that way, whatever you earn.
“And so far this season we’ve had a great run, we’ve lost one league game, that is excellent.’
“I hope we can get one of the big boys in the next round so the players can get some experience of a higher standard and the club can get some finances that could help us progress.”