Ronan Curtis savours third consecutive Portsmouth victory as Rochdale perish during remarkable start to Cowley era

The Blues looked set for a comfortable win over rock-bottom Rochdale having established a 2-0 lead after 36 minutes through goals from Ryan Williams and Curtis.

However, following the interval, the Blues lost momentum, looking leggy and short of creativity.

Jake Beesley’s stoppage-time goal ensured the fixture ended 2-1 – for a third consecutive game for Pompey.

And Curtis felt the latest win under new head coach Danny Cowley was fully warranted.

He told The News: ‘We deserved it, if you ask anyone in the ground, they will say we deserved the win.

‘We could have had a couple of more with Jacobs going through, but he scuffed his shot a bit. It happens to the best of us.

‘We missed chances, but as long as we are getting those chances, that’s the good thing.

‘Marcus had a few but bodies got in the way and I think we dominated the game in the first 60-odd minutes.

‘Then they came back into it and got their goal, but we didn't panic, we showed character and won the game.’

Victory keeps the Blues fifth in League One on a day when their rivals also collected wins.

With nine matches remaining, Cowley’s men are 11 points short of the automatic promotion spots.

But, ahead of the Bank Holiday Monday trip to Wigan, they are firmly in the frame to finish in the play-off positions.

Curtis added: ‘We were comfortable.

‘Obviously they are a possession-based team and like to build out from the back and get their wing-backs high and get crosses into the box for the two strikers.

‘However, we suffocated them in that area and pinned them into their own half most of the game.’

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