Former transfer target bemoans Portsmouth's 'sloppy' match-winner against Fleetwood

The Scot was on the Blues’ wish list in the summer but a move hit the buffers before he joined the Cod Army from Blackburn.

He started against Kenny Jackett's men at the Highbury Stadium on Saturday but couldn’t prevent the visitors returning to the south coast with all three points.

In a game of few goalscoring chances, John Marquis’ 16th-minute header proved the difference.

But Mulgrew reckons Fleetwood could have prevented the former Doncaster striker's 13th goal of the season.

The defender told Fleetwood’s website: ‘We played some nice football today, it was disappointing not to win the game, ultimately, we played the better football but it’s a shame we didn’t come away with three points- sometimes that’s worse than playing bad and losing because you know where that’s come from.

‘We didn’t take our chances and conceded a sloppy goal so in the end, it was disappointing.

'We need to take our chances; we were more expansive today and we left too many gaps on the pitch, but we need to pick ourselves up and go again.’

Fleetwood had 64 per cent possession yet they scarcely tested Craig MacGillivray in the Pompey goal.

Interim-boss Simon Wiles was disappointed his side couldn't take advantage when they had periods on top.

He said: ‘We’ve just got to make sure that when we are on top and when we have got the ball and we are building momentum it’s vital that we get that quality right in the final third and make sure we start taking those chances when they fall to us.

‘In certain parts of the game when you are getting yourself on top it’s vital that we do that those chances.

‘I know there were a couple of chances straight after Portsmouth scored that we could’ve done better with that would have then put the game at 1-1 and then they’ve got to come out chasing and then would’ve given us the impetus to go forward and get the next one but unfortunately that didn’t happen.’