Knight: Keeper was Pompey's match-winner at RochdaleÂ

Legend ALAN KNIGHT delivers his thoughts on the FA Cup second-round win at Spotland...
Craig MacGillivray. Picture: Joe PeplerCraig MacGillivray. Picture: Joe Pepler
Craig MacGillivray. Picture: Joe Pepler

If you're a Rochdale fan you would have been a bit pig sick because of the way they played in the second half.

I thought that we had the better of the first half. Pompey got into some good positions, but were a bit high and wide with a few opportunities before Ronan Curtis hits the bar before the break.

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Rochdale huffed and puffed at us in the first period without creating anything clear cut. They were direct and powerful in the early stages.

Craig MacGillivray. Picture: Joe PeplerCraig MacGillivray. Picture: Joe Pepler
Craig MacGillivray. Picture: Joe Pepler

But in the second half the Dale had the better of the game and also hit the bar.

Craig MacGillivray pulled off two great saves as well and, for me, they won us the game.

After possibly a little mistake against Scunthorpe, he bounced back.

Goalkeeping now is different to when I was playing.

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You're not always in the action and your concentration levels have got to be spot on '“ especially when playing in a team like ours with the defensive record.

When called upon he had to be ready and he certainly was.

Craig kept out Calvin Andrew with his foot before making a save virtually at the end to deny Ian Henderson to his left. They were two big stops

We obviously had a huge amount of luck because it looked like the tie was going to go to a replay at Fratton Park.

Andre Green won the free-kick in the build up and ended up putting the ball in the back of the net.

We have had plenty things go against us in the past.

When you are in form you can get that bit of luck.

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We have had bad luck in the past and are due mountains of good luck with what has gone on in the past. 

Rochdale were obviously going to be well up for it and had a proper go.

But it shows Pompey's mentality to go there and to get a result in difficult conditions. 

The boys have there all and there are a lot of games coming up in a short space of time, so changes will be made. 

They're going to need a bit of a rest in the next coming week.

The players have got to be honest with the manager as there's no point playing if they are not 100-per-cent fit.