Cook: Confidence gained from Pompey's Trophy victory

Paul Cook basked in the positive side of Checkatrade Trophy involvement as Pompey defeated Bristol Rovers.
Kal Naismith scores the winner for Pompey Picture: Joe PeplerKal Naismith scores the winner for Pompey Picture: Joe Pepler
Kal Naismith scores the winner for Pompey Picture: Joe Pepler

The Blues must now await the outcome of Yeovil and Reading under-23s’ encounter tomorrow night before learning whether they have qualified for the knock-out stages.

In the meantime, Kal Naismith gave them a 1-0 victory over Rovers with an 88th-minute goal.

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Watched by a crowd of 1,200 – the lowest in Fratton Park post-war history – the hosts also missed a sixth-minute penalty through Michael Smith.

But Cook was delighted to end a run of three successive Fratton Park defeats.

He said: ‘It’s pleasing after Saturday’s disappointment.

‘We played very good opposition tonight, it’s a good result for the lads, especially in terms of confidence. We kept a clean sheet and had a couple of good chances in the game, especially in the first half.

‘We keep having disappointments. It was the disappointment tonight of starting the game really well and positively – then missing the penalty. That’s the way it goes for you sometimes.

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‘After 84 minutes, I said to the staff, these are defining moments now because you feel you could lose it 1-0 and everyone goes “oh no, here we go again”. But we have gone on and won the game.

‘We have a big game here on Saturday and I’m looking forward to it.’