Paul Cook pleased with Pompey performance despite defeat

A much-changed Pompey outfit bowed out of the competition after extra-time against the Sky Blues, with the hosts progressing 3-2 on the night, after the game finished 2-2 after 90 minutes.

Curtis Main opened the scoring for the Blues from the penalty spot in the first half before Coventry responded through Ryan Haynes and Vladimir Gadzhev after the interval.

Kal Naismith, who was operating at left-back, kept Pompey’s hopes alive with a stunning free-kick from 30 yards out on 84 minutes.

However, the visitors’ hopes were undone in the second period of extra-time when Andy Rose made the most of an Alex Bass parry.

It was an unfortunate way to end their involvement in the competition, with the visitors impressing for long periods of the game against their League One opponents.

But Cook remained pleased with what he saw from his side.

‘I’m delighted with the perdormance from the lads,’ he said.

‘After making so many changes, I was really pleased.

‘We looked a threat, especially early on in the game. I think we posed a great threat.

‘I think visually, you could see our guys running out of legs and energy, and as the manager the easiest thing to do was make changes.

‘But these lads have to go through that.

‘Our season this year will be defined by our prgoress in the league – that’s the reality.

‘Everyone speaks about what our prioirities are.

‘Tonight was a great night for the likes of Adam May, while Alex Bass played for the full 120 minutes. They all equipped themselves really well.’