Cook dissatisfied with issues at both ends in Pompey draw

Wasteful up one end and careless at the other.
Pompey boss Paul Cook. Picture: Joe PeplerPompey boss Paul Cook. Picture: Joe Pepler
Pompey boss Paul Cook. Picture: Joe Pepler

Paul Cook admitted the Blues paid the penalty for both as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Morecambe.

Considering results elsewhere, victory would have lifted Pompey into third spot for the first time since September.

However, Lee Molyneux’s 83rd-minute goal levelled matters.

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Cook pinpointed Christian Burgess challenging Matt Clarke for the same ball as the cause of such a devastating equaliser.

Meanwhile, he believed the hosts should have been out of sight in the first half, such was their dominance and excellent approach play. Yet it finished in a draw, the point ensuring Pompey are now two points off Carlisle with a game in hand.

Nonetheless, he was disappointed not to have secured the full three points.

He said: ‘You have got to be fair to Lee Molyneux, it was a great finish with his left foot.

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‘But it’s an horrendous mistake by us. We were not under pressure.

‘Christian did not have to come across and try to win the ball.

‘We had two centre-halves clashing and Morecambe only played with one up front.

‘That was a big error from us. Unfortunately when you miss that amount of chances you are always liable for something to happen – and a defensive error let them in.

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‘Christian had an opportunity at the end with a header, it looked like he has got to score and it would have been great for him to redeem himself.

‘That’s football but it’s a game we should have won.

‘When the keeper is making saves with his feet you have got to score, you have got to disappoint people with goals.

‘Unfortunately Morecambe were just about to be disappointed, then got the goal which lifted them.

‘We weren’t quite at it in the second half and that can be for a host of reasons.

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‘I am not one to make excuses and blame things but I’m going to give the lads a couple of days off now because of the journeys and different stuff.

‘We need fresh players and an appetite to win because we’ve got Crewe and then Crawley and must stay together.’

Struggling Crewe visit Fratton Park on Saturday on the back of a 4-0 hammering at Hartlepool.

Pompey then travel to 16th-placed Crawley on Tuesday evening in a rearranged fixture.

Dermot Drummy’s side suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to Pompey’s promotion rivals Exeter City last night.