But the Blues boss was satisfied with what he saw from his players from a double dose of action as their pre-season got underway.
Yesterday’s 3-0 win over Hawks was followed up by a 1-0 reverse at Privett Park, as Andreas Robinson 25 yarder settled the game.
Pompey’s experienced first-half team looked laboured today before Cowley fielded a youthful team after the break who upped the tempo.
Most Popular
-
1
'I don't think I realised how much it would mean': ex-Cardiff City and Bristol City man's Portsmouth admission as he chases winning Fratton feeling after homecoming
-
2
Former Portsmouth, Sunderland and Millwall ace Aiden O'Brien suffers setback as frustrating start to life at Shrewsbury continues
-
3
Danny Cowley makes Portsmouth team selection admission following Cheltenham win - and gives honest assessment of current squad amid early-season promotion hopes
-
4
Colby Bishop gives Spurs loanee and England youngster Dane Scarlett raving reviews after making Portsmouth league debut
-
5
The role ex-Leicester City, Birmingham City and Charlton Athletic man wants to maintain at Portsmouth after guiding city's young gems at Reading
They couldn’t take one of the stack of chances which came their way, however.
He said: ‘We probably had 20 chances which we should have taken.
‘We got to some good areas and created a lot but couldn’t find that final action.
‘Yesterday we were good and professional and I thought it was a good performance, particularly first half.
‘The second half today was excellent and we didn’t get value.
‘The amount of times we got to the final third and the amount of chances we created - but we just couldn’t find that goal.’
Cowley explained how the Pompey players have had a gruelling week of double sessions going into this weekend’s action.
He felt that accounted for the energy levels being below what he’d like to see in the first half.
Cowley added: ‘We’ve had two games at the back end of a tough week.
‘There was maybe 60km into the players’ legs this week.
‘I think out of the two games we had three good halves out of four.
‘We’re disappointed with the first half today - we didn’t find the intenstity or the energy we like to play with.
‘There’s probably reasons for that. We’re not tapering in and yesterday was a double session where they trained in the morning and then played at Havant and Waterlooville.
‘They didn’t have quite have that sharpness.’