Bowyer: Blackpool graft too much for Pompey

The Blackpool boss saw his side restrict the Blues to a single shot on target – which arrived in stoppage time – on the way to a 2-0 success.

Bowyer felt his team’s work-rate stood out as they restricted the attacking threat of Kenny Jackett’s side.

He told the Blackpool Gazette: ‘I thought it was a fabulous performance.

‘To come here and play in front of 17,500, to keep a clean sheet and score two very good goals and limit to them to only one shot on target, well the lads deserve a hell of a lot of credit for that.

‘Their work rate was superb and it just shows you with hard work and organisation what can be achieved.

‘You have to be organised against Kenny Jackett’s teams but we worked on getting Nathan Delfouneso free, and with the experience of Jimmy Ryan and Jay Spearing we had several opportunities to do that.’

‘We just didn’t produce enough end product for the opportunities we created - first half especially.

‘But we also had to be defensively right and I thought the goalkeeper was outstanding again in the way he came for crosses, collected it and remained calm.

‘The back four – they won their headers against Oliver Hawkins and that’s difficult. The clearances were spot on all day.

‘All over we worked extremely hard.’

Bowyer also reserved praise for the 264 hardy Blackpool fans who made the long trip to Fratton Park.

He said: ‘The supporters were magnificent.

‘It’s not the easiest of places to travel to and how many were here? 264? That’s a magnificent effort.

‘We wanted to send them hope happy and it’s only right we recognise the effort they make. They were terrific for us and again, 264 in a 17,500 crowd, and yet we could hear them and that’s important to us.’