'We can't feel sorry for ourselves': Danny Cowley on Portsmouth agony after Ipswich break Fratton hearts

And he is adamant he couldn’t have asked any more from his team in their 2-2 draw at Fratton Park.

Conor Chaplin’s leveller three minutes from time secured the high-flying Tractor Boys a point having twice fallen behind.

Marlon Park and then Colby Bishop had seemingly put the Blues on course for only a second win in 13 League One matches.

Instead they were pegged back twice – the latter in a heartbreaking finale – as the Fratton frustrations continue.

Cowley told The News: ‘I cannot ask for more from the players in terms of commitment, work ethic and attitude. It was a really determined performance.

‘I don’t think you can say you defended well when conceding two goals, but a lot of our defensive work was very, very good.

‘We played against not only the best team in this league, but one of the best League One teams that I've seen in my lifetime, and restricted them to very, very few chances.

‘So to get a point was disappointing and frustrating in equal measure. The first goal is off-side, so it’s hard to be too critical of that, but, for the second one, they took a shot from 30-yards, we didn’t deal with it, and Conor Chaplin does what Conor Chaplin does.

‘I thought they (Ipswich) had good control and good rhythm at times, but didn’t hurt us with chances and found it difficult to play through us and get around us.

‘We carried a threat on the counter, but weren’t able to hang on for what would have been a really important three points.

‘We can’t feel sorry for ourselves, this is the moment we are in, not much is going for us, we understand that, but we also know that if we keep working and stay really focused and determined then we come through it because we have good players and good characters in the dressing room.

‘It was a good performance, Boxing Day was a good performance. That’s two good performances, but we have only taken two points, we’ve drawn too many games, we all know that, and we are all frustrated by it.’

For large parts of the second half, the Blues struggled to break out of their own half as Ipswich dominated.

And Cowley believes his team should have coped better in attacking situations during those difficult periods.

He added: ‘We can be critical of ourselves at not finding the first pass at times.

‘We countered well, but on occasions there was a good opportunity to make the first pass and get a bit of control and rhythm, but you have to credit your opponent because they are a really good team, they don't give you a moment.’