Portsmouth boss lauds the match-changing moments which keep Cowleys' charge going against Rochdale

But the Blues boss acknowledged there’s much to work on after the 2-1 victory over Rochdale at Fratton Park.

First half goals from Ryan Williams and an exceptional example of how the new management team want to play finished superbly by Ronan Curtis, did the damage.

Cowley was pleased with the builld-up to both finishes from his new team.

He said: ‘We were pleased with aspects of the performance.

‘Certainly we were pleased with the first two goals.

‘With the first goal Ronan Curtis did a brilliant job to press their keeper and we got the turnover.

‘We were then calm enough for Michael Jacobs to execute a lovely pass to Marcus Harness and it was great cross and finish.

‘The second goal from goal line to goal line was a great goal from our perspective, against a team playing with a real high press and pressure.

‘We knew if we could draw that press on and beat it there would be opportunities for us at the top end of the pitch.’The win keeps Pompey in the play-off places and made it three wins from three for the Cowleys, but they know there’s plenty of work to do, and there was frustration at the stoppage-time goal which means they’ve yet to keep a clean sheet.

The head coach added: ‘We were disappointed to concede the goal.

‘That really hurts us, because we want to keep clean sheets.

‘We want to win football matches and it’s much easier to win football matches when the opponent doesn’t score.

‘So we’re disappoitned with that, because I don’t think they had a shot on target in the second half.

‘But we know why (the goal happened) and if you know that you can learn and adapt.’