Paul Cook: Another typical Pompey display

Action from Pompey's 2-2 draw at Salisbury. Picture: Joe Pepler

The Blues dominated for long spells against their Southern League division one south and west hosts, creating many chances, and took the lead twice before throwing away their advantage - both from corners.

Triallist Noel Hunt (42mins) and Gary Roberts (58) netted for the visitors, but on each occasion Steve Claridge’s side fought back and equalised through Justin Bennett (43) and Eddie Perrett (72) respectively.

In many ways, the performance replicated the Blues’ displays last season when they missed out on promotion from League Two.

That fact wasn’t lost on the manager.

But Cook admitted such games are what you expect in pre-season.

‘That was probably a typical Pompey game,’ said the Blues boss.

‘We dominated the ball for long spells, created a lot of chances and didn’t put them away.

‘And that Achilles heel of conceding from set pieces let us down.

‘All in all very similar to what we have seen last year.

‘On another night we would have put a couple away but it’s pre-season.

‘Pre-season is about repetition work and looking forward to the new season.’