Greg Abbott believes Pompey’s long-overdue win is just around the corner after seeing his Carlisle side grab a hard-earned point at Fratton Park.
The Carlisle boss was left with mixed emotions after the 1-1 draw – especially as his men had the better of the chances.
But he believes the Fratton faithful’s backing will see the barren run ended sooner rather than later.
Abbott said: ‘They are always points gained.
‘These (Pompey) will win a game, I will tell you now.
‘In the next two or three weeks they will win a game because they can’t play in front of 11,000 or 12,000, whatever it is, and just fall down and die.
‘The crowd won’t let them.
‘So, you are playing the crowd as much as the team.
‘Their fans have been phenomenal, they have given the team an unbelievable amount of backing and are an absolute credit.
‘I know it has not been a tough place to come but their players are playing for these fans and you are always up against that.
‘So we are sort of pleased with a point.
‘But going ahead and taking it into the last 10 or 15 minutes protecting a 1-0 lead, we might feel disappointed we didn’t get the win.’
After getting their noses in front early in the second half, Carlisle had opportunities to extend their lead – Rory Loy missing the best of the chances when he headed over from close range.
Abbott said: ‘We had one or two chances to make it 2-0 and that would probably have seen us comfortable winners.
‘But we protected our goal really well and we faced a bombardment of long balls in the last 20 minutes, with John Akinde and Patrick Agyemang, who were really powerful.
‘Sometimes it is a sob story for Portsmouth.
‘They are playing in sort of emotion country – I think that has probably got them the point.
‘They will think they deserved it and we’re just a big aggrieved we haven’t got three but I am not complaining too much.’
– STEVE WILSON
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