'Devastated' Brandon Haunstrup reveals his Portsmouth Checkatrade Trophy heartbreak

The left-back had started all six of Pompey’s matches during the 2018-19 competition as they headed to Bury with Wembley on the horizon.

However, for the Gigg Lane semi-final, he was dropped along with Adam May and Matt Casey as Kenny Jackett bolstered his side with more senior players.

The outcome was a fine 3-0 success to clinch a place in the final against Sunderland.

Haunstrup remained unused on the bench for that March 2019 Wembley encounter, which Pompey triumphed on penalties following a 2-2 draw.

And, despite winning a medal, the 23-year-old admitted he was left heartbroken.

Haunstrup told The News: ‘I was absolutely devastated. I had played every game in the Checkatrade Trophy – and then dropped for the semi-final and final.

‘I get that they are big games for the club, but why am I not playing in big games? Am I not good enough? Am I not trustworthy? Would I have made the team worse?

‘Obviously the manager didn’t trust me for whatever reason because I didn’t play that much, it's as simple as that.

‘That was a really tough one to take. We were playing in front of that atmosphere at Wembley – and I was sat on the bench absolutely gutted not being out there.

‘That would definitely have been the highlight of my career at Pompey. But it wasn’t to be.

‘It wasn’t just me as well. A few of the other boys who had played regularly had been dropped for the final two matches.

‘You’re among a group and want them to do well, but it’s hard not being selfish in football. You want to play, it just wouldn’t be right not to want to play every single game.

‘If you haven't got aspirations to play football then you shouldn’t be in the game,

‘You’re buzzing that you've won the cup, you’ve got the medal and played in almost every game. And at that point you don’t really feel a part of it.

‘You can’t go home and say “I played my part”. It didn’t feel like that to me.’

Ironically, Haunstrup’s final Pompey outing would arrive in the same competition, albeit rebranded the Leasing.com Trophy.

He started January’s 2-1 win over Scunthorpe, although wasn’t in the squad for the dramatic semi-final 3-2 triumph over Exeter.

The left-back has now left to join Kilmarmock on a two-year deal, after rejecting the chance to stay at Fratton Park.

Haunstrup added: ‘When we got promoted from League Two, Matt Clarke, who obviously had been instrumental playing centre-back, was injured for the Notts County game.

‘I was sat in the Meadow Lane stand alongside him watching the game.

‘Obviously he wanted to be part of it and was a little gutted he wasn’t involved in the match which actually got us promoted. He was a bit down afterwards.

‘After the Checkatrade Trophy win, all the boys were celebrating in the dressing room and James Vaughan was saying “I haven’t played a part in this yet have a medal”.

‘Instead, he gave his to Matt Casey, who had started three games in the competition.

‘It’s weird, but that’s how it is. You want to be involved every game.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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