Danny Cowley issues promise to Portsmouth supporters in the battle for League One play-offs

The Blues collected a point at Accrington last night, albeit in heart-wrenching circumstances.

John Marquis’ own goal five minutes into time added-on cancelled out his earlier 90th-minute strike as the encounter finished 3-3.

For all the inevitable disappointment at the final whistle in Pompey’s camp, the draw lifts them back into the play-off spots.

Presently sixth with two matches to play, they are looking nervously over their shoulder at Charlton, who are two points behind with a game in hand.

And Cowley is adamant his team will continue to scrap until the very last minute of the season for that play-off right.

He told The News: ‘The goals were horrible for us, but we all have to feel the pain, that’s football.

‘You have to feel the pain, suck it up and then must make sure that you respond.

‘We have two games to go, we are still going, we are still fighting.

‘You might not believe me and we might not be physically able to, but we are going to the end.

‘We are going to the absolute end – and that's what I promise all Pompey supporters.’

Pompey are four points behind fourth-placed Sunderland going into the final two fixtures.

Overall, just eight points separate the six play-off contenders in the scrap for four places.

And despite the Blues last night missing out of a win at the death, Cowley felt it was unwise to hold a dressing-room inquest afterwards.

He added: ‘When the emotion’s high, sometimes it’s not the right time to analyse.

‘They will all be feeling the pain and the disappointment. What will be best is keeping that to ourselves, taking some time to reflect, taking some time to manage the emotion.

‘Take some time to be able to look at the game, watch it back and take something from it.

‘That, for me, is the best information. There’s no words I am going to say to make them feel any better about the circumstance.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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