Pompey’s comeback cuts no ice with Danny

PORTSMOUTH boss Danny Cowley bemoaned his side’s defending after they staged a dramatic comeback from 3-0 down to claim a draw against Fleetwood.

Substitute Aiden O’Brien came off the bench to rescue a point in stoppage time.

But head coach Cowley said: “That is two points dropped as far as I am concerned. We were too soft in the first half, didn’t get enough first contacts or second balls.

“Defensively, our one-on-one just wasn’t good enough. Fleetwood have probably had four attacks in the first half, and scored from three of them.

“We gave ourselves a mountain to climb because it’s never easy here when you’re behind.

“The fans always want the players to run hard and give them everything they’ve got, and I think they definitely saw that in the second half.

“The response was excellent. The players showed character under intense pressure with energy, purpose, resilience, and quality. But that is what I want to see over 90 minutes.”

Fleetwood took the lead after only seven minutes when Anthony Pilkington prodded home from six yards after being teed up by former Pompey striker Ellis Harrison.

Eight minutes later, Carl Johnston squared the ball for Harrison Biggins to put the Cod Army

2-0 up.

A solo effort on the left side of the pitch from Paddy Lane made it 3-0 four minutes before the interval.

Ronan Curtis’s penalty on the stroke of half-time after Callum Camps had been penalised for handball gave Pompey hope.

But the hosts were kept at bay until Marcus Harness scrambled home from close range with ten minutes to play.

Sunderland loanee O’Brien had the last word to leave the visitors crestfallen. O’Brien converted George Hirst’s cross from midway inside the penalty area in the 95th minute to cap an incredible Pompey fightback.

Fleetwood manager Stephen Crainey said: “We’re disappointed.

“Fratton Park is a tough place to come, but I thought in the first half we were outstanding with three brilliant goals.

“Their penalty was a turning point, and it changed the complexion of the game.”