Kenny Jackett: Portsmouth found it tough in dramatic Carabao Cup win at Stevenage

Kenny Jackett admitted Pompey found it tough after coming close to a Carabao Cup upset at the hands of League Two Stevenage.
Craig MacGillivray was Pompey's hero at Stevenage after coming on as substitute. Picture: Jason Brown/ProSportsImagesCraig MacGillivray was Pompey's hero at Stevenage after coming on as substitute. Picture: Jason Brown/ProSportsImages
Craig MacGillivray was Pompey's hero at Stevenage after coming on as substitute. Picture: Jason Brown/ProSportsImages

The Blues this afternoon turned in an abject first-half display to spark fears they could be eliminated by their hosts.

Jackett’s men recovered from a two-goal deficit - yet still had to rely on substitute Craig MacGillivray’s penalty shoot-out brilliance to send them through.

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They were 3-1 down at the Lamex Stadium entering first-half stoppage time, before Gareth Evans’ penalty reduced the deficit.

Then John Marquis levelled on 51 minutes during an improved second-half display as the match finished 3-3.

It was left to MacGillivray, on for Alex Bass at half-time, to seal success by saving three of Stevenage’s four penalties as Pompey clinched a 3-1 victory.

Jackett said: ‘It was an exciting game to some degree, end to end and full of chances.

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‘Stevenage played well, they were a handful in the early part of the game. Coker has good delivery with his left foot and they have four or five very big lads and it was tough for us.

‘We got to grips with it better as the game went on.

‘Sean was disappointed with the first half when he got a shout, but it looked a bit of hesitation.

‘The second and third goals were unenforced errors and ones we could have dealt with and we are disappointed with that.

‘Similarly, though, we kept going, and got some good goals coming back.

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‘Ronan Curtis’ was an excellent goal just inside the box on his right foot and the penalty on the stroke of half-time gave us some momentum for the second half and to have a good go.

‘In the second half we looked the better side, found some rhythm, found some momentum and got an excellent goal from John Marquis.

‘We couldn’t quite get that winner, but it’s nice to see us win a penalty shoot-out after Oxford.

‘And some fantastic saves from Craig.’

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