Two-goal John Marquis lifts lid on emotions after late, late Accrington Stanley own goal denies Portsmouth critical win for play-off hopes

But the Blues striker is adamant Danny Cowley’s side showed the spirit which can still deliver a top-six finish after the breathless 3-3 draw at the Crown Ground.

Marquis two second-half goals hoped turn a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 advantage, before he turned the ball into his own net at the death in cruel fashion.

It ended a four-game barren run for the 28-year-old on a rollercoaster night for the Blues’ top scorer and his team, which ultimately had a dispiriting late sting in the tail.

Marquis said: ‘It’s heartbreaking, because we’ve worked so hard and I couldn’t do anything.

‘That’s the disappointing thing. I haven’t scored for a few games, I think I’ve got the winner and then you end up scoring an own goal you can do nothing about.

‘It’s a bit sickening, but I need to analyse myself first and look at the positives with a clearer mind.

‘The second goal was instinct and you think you’ve nicked and helped turn a poor first half into a win.

‘We had some good chances and the way we played at a tempo from the front in the second half helped drive us on.

‘You want to score and get chances and I was able to take them.

‘There’s always twists and turns though, so it was just so disappointing it ended as it did.’

Cowley’s men may have been left on the floor by the way the game unravelled against John Coleman’s side, but their play-off hopes were boosted by Crewe’s stoppage-time goal earning them a 2-2 draw at Charlton.

That leaves Pompey in sixth place a point ahead of Oxford United and two in front of the Addicks - who have a game in hand.

Marquis can sees more drama to come yet for the Blues, who he believes are now showing the character which gives them hope of success.

He added: ‘We’ve got nothing to lose and everythng to gain.

‘The gaffer and Nicky are really big on mentality.

‘You could see in the second half of that game that our mentality has got better.

‘This wasn’t a technical game and it wasn’t a tactical game. It was their formation against ours which and it was about mentality.

‘You come to Accrington with three games left on a wet pitch and it’s hammering down with rain.

‘If someone said take a picture of Accrington away, it would’ve looked like it did.

‘It was about digging in, heart and desire - and that’s what we’ve got to take into our remaining games now.

‘Believe me, it’s not over until it’s over. I believe this is going to go down to the wire.’