GALLEN’S JOY AS POMPEY HIT TOP
PORTSMOUTH assistant boss Joe Gallen insisted his side would not get carried away by going top of the table after their comeback win at Rochdale.
Pompey had to recover from the blow of conceding a stunning Aaron Wilbraham strike in the third minute to maintain their unbeaten start to the seaof son, with goals from Jamal Lowe, Brett Pitman and Matt Clarke in reply.
It was the manner of their recovery which most pleased Gallen. “I’m not sure being top of the table at this stage makes much difference – but winning away from home breeds confidence,” he said. “Top of the table is nice, but it doesn’t mean anything at this stage, it’s just better to be there than at the bottom I suppose!
“We’re really pleased to come away as 3-1 winners from what is always a tough place to win. It was a thoroughly professional performance. They came out very lively and it was a brilliant goal from Aaron – our goalkeeper had no chance. But I am glad to say that the reaction from our lads after that was superb.
“It can be tough coming from a goal down so early on when you are away from home because it gives the home team confidence.
“The reaction to going a goal down so early on was the most pleasing aspect of the game because, when they scored, we could have had a wobble. But we didn’t.”
Wilbraham’s dipping 25yard volley put Pompey on the back foot, but they hit back strongly with Nathan Thompson’s shot hitting the crossbar, before Lowe turned in Pitman’s delivery across the face of Rochdale’s goal after 25 minutes.
Pompey goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray parried shots from Andy Cannon and Ollie Rathbone at the start of the second half, but the game swung the visitors’ way in the 70th minute when Lee Brown’s cross was flicked wide of Josh Lillis.
Ten minutes later Clarke wrapped up the win when he smashed a shot into the roof the net. “They make good footballing decisions on the pitch, they have the experience, good leaders and the difference between the two sides was their decision-making on the pitch,” admitted Rochdale boss Keith Hill.
“They are a good side. I thought we played some nice stuff at times, but I am disappointed with the result and a little disappointed we didn’t push on having taken the lead. “You have to respect your opponents and sometimes you can’t stop them. If they are better than you it’s very difficult. There wasn’t any lack of work rate, I just feel they were probably better than using every department and there is no shame in that.”