Gaffer: Time for Curtis to have a break from Portsmouth side

What are your thoughts on that?

Victory was there for the taking, but if you don't take your chances that's what happens and in the end both teams were satisfied for a draw in the last 15-20 minutes.

I don't think Accrington could have played as poorly as they did in that opening 20 minutes, but we have got to take our chances.

We got away with it at AFC Wimbledon, but Accrington are a better team and were always going to come back into it at some stage.

I suppose you could say at least we're getting chances, while I don't really think we can complain about our away record. In fact, there's not really much to moan about at present.

It was an opportunity, but in the end a draw was the fair result and a really good point. It's one more point, I'm happy with it, and come April it could prove to be a big point.

 

What did you make of the decision to drop Jack Whatmough?

I must admit, I was shocked, but Christian Burgess had a good game in his place.

I can understand Kenny Jackett's thinking, Jack's only a young lad who has experienced a lot of injuries, so it's important he is managed well.

Some of the criticism towards Burgess this year has been out of order, he has been very consistent during many seasons with us. So he's made a couple of mistakes, we're only human.

I am impressed with the whole back five, with Craig MacGillivray safe and assured. Even when a shot comes in you feel he is going to comfortably deal with it.

 

Who was your man of the match?

Jamal Lowe was unplayable in the first half, head and shoulders above everyone, so he gets my vote.

I was talking to a couple of Accrington supporters after the game and they believed the sun was so low in that first half that it meant Lowe lost the full-back every time. With the sun behind the hosts after the break, they thought it was completely different.

I was also impressed with Ben Thompson. It's only the second time I've seen him in the flesh and, while he's not the biggest, he puts himself about.

We missed Tom Naylor, though, and you see how key he is to that team, breaking things up. We missed his authority there at Accrington.

 

And you gave a low mark for Ronan Curtis.

We talked about him at half time and some of the guys reckon the Irishman is now believing in his own hype.

That's certainly not my view, I think he needs a breather. He is probably shattered, so perhaps it's time to give him a break as he didn't seem his usual self.

Ronan is a confident lad, we have seen that, and to some fans all the positive headlines have gone to his head. I just think he needs a rest.

The less said about the top knot the better. Mind you, I wish I could do that, but unfortunately my hair won't allow it!

 

Craig MacGillivray 8

Nathan Thompson 7

Christian Burgess 7

Matt Clarke 7

Lee Brown 7

Ben Close 6

Ben Thompson 8

Jamal Lowe 9

Gareth Evans 6

Ronan Curtis 5

Oli Hawkins 7