Leam Richardson: Pompey win was well deserved
This afternoon’s match appeared to be heading for a goalless St James Park draw as the Blues struggled to test keeper Bobby Olejnik.
Yet substitute Kal Naismith earned an 85th-minute penalty after Pierce Sweeney was adjudged to have bundled him over while chasing Christian Burgess’ pass.
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Hide AdAmid home protests, Gary Roberts stepped up to net the winner and secure Pompey’s second-successive victory.
For Richardson, it was a narrow result fully warranted from the visitors.
Pompey’s assistant manager said: ‘You look at the way the lads defended in the last five minutes and put their bodies on the line, when you do that I think you deserve the three points.
‘You make your own luck. It was a talking point last year but this year when we have deserved a bit of luck and deserved decisions we are getting them at the minute.
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Hide Ad‘We will continue to work hard on the training ground and on the pitch.
‘We have a good squad, everybody in our squad can play, we expect to travel in good numbers and we expect a certain level of performance from lads.’
Meanwhile, Richardson took over dugout duties with Paul Cook serving the first game of a two-match ban imposed by the Football Association.
He added: ‘I’ve worked with the gaffer for years and he is top class.
‘He was constantly in my ears from the stand with information on to the pitch.
‘He does see a very good game from there and thankfully we have gone away from home and won.’