Cook: Pompey should have won at Plymouth

Danny Rose's late strike looked to have won it for Pompey at Plymouth - only for the hosts to level matters at the death Picture: Joe Pepler

The Blues appeared to be heading for a 2-1 win following Danny Rose’s spectacular 30-yard strike on 87 minutes.

However, substitute Connor Smith netted two minutes later to seal a last-gasp point for Derek Adams’ side.

During the first half, Kyle Bennett had cancelled out Yann Songo’o’s header, yet Pompey often looked the better side.

And Cook is adamant they would have been worthy Home Park winners.

He said: ‘We were excellent, we played really well, it was a good performance but unfortunately didn’t get the result we probably deserved.

‘But you must respect Plymouth, they are a very strong side, Derek has done a fantastic job here and overseen changes in the summer and are doing very well as a club.

‘They are worthy league leaders at the moment, however, when you have played 13 games in the league campaign there is so far to go.

‘I am really pleased with the week we have put in with Orient and Plymouth and shown all our supporters signs that we are hopefully going to be a good team to manage an assault on this league.’