Fleetwood 1 Portsmouth 0 - what they said at the final whistle

The game was dominated by blustery conditions on the Fylde coast, with Callum Connolly's 12th-minute strike proving crucial.

Here’s what those closest to the action said about the clash at full-time...

Pompey manager Kenny Jackett

I didn’t think we really did enough in the first half.

I understand the elements played a big part, but didn’t think we had our usual sharpness, they were half a yard quicker to the ball and deserved their 1-0 lead at half-time.

Similarly, with the elements, I thought we could have a big second half and come back into the game.

I still felt it was there for us at half-time and was hoping with all off the pressure we had, and we had a lot, we would find more moments in front of goal.

Probably our best ones were Sean Raggett’s header headed off the line and a few moments of Marcus Harness travelling into the box with the ball, but we just couldn’t find that half a yard.

Ultimately they defended very well and protected their lead.

Blues midfielder Cameron McGeehan

It was frustrating not to get anything and come away with any points.

But there’s still a long way to go and lot of chopping and changing which will happen.

We’re disappointed but we have to look to put it right on Tuesday.

Fleetwood boss Joey Barton

I’m obviously delighted. There's been a lot of hard work gone in for a lot of people at the football club.

It’s really pleasing to see that starting to pay off now with results and performances.

Portsmouth won 11 out of 12 coming into the game and were obviously flying.

I expected them to be there or thereabouts at the start of the season and they will be because they’re a very good team with some good players.

We were the better side and deservedly took three points.

Chief sports writer Neil Allen

Lacklustre Pompey can have no complaints over defeat at promotion rivals Fleetwood.

The Blues never suggested they could force their way back into a match they fell behind in on 12 minutes.

Plenty of huffing and puffing but a frustrating lack of creativity and goal-scoring opportunities against a Fleetwood side who found it too comfortable.

And successive away defeats to fellow contenders leaves the Blues in seventh.

Pompey reporter Jordan Cross

A horrible game of football played out in horrible conditions.

And ultimately Fleetwood adjusted better to the winds battering Highbury Stadium to put the brakes on Pompey’s promotion charge.

In a game of few chances, one defensive lapse proved costly as Kenny Jackett’s men fell out of the play-offs.

Pompey were a long distance short of their best and ultimately needed to be stoic, take a point and move on to MK Dons on Tuesday. They came up short, however, and it’s now a sizeable seven-point gap to the top two.