Stevenage 0 Pompey 2: Gaffer for a day

Pompey playmaker Gary Roberts in action at Stevenage Picture: Joe Pepler

Impressed with that win on the road?

Saturday showed us exactly what we have been lacking this season – the ability to grind out a win away from home.

We have missed out at Exeter and Morecambe in recent weeks, conceding late goals after failing to see the match out.

But against Stevenage we fought it out in conditions which deteriorated in the second-half to get the victory.

It was a good display from us in a scrappy game.

Stevenage tried to play like us by getting the ball out wide, hence winning so many corners in the first-half.

But they didn’t possess the extra quality we have to get the goals.

Who gets your vote as man of the match?

I am going for Kal Naismith, even if he did spend only 19 minutes on the pitch after replacing Gary Roberts.

He came on and did what so many substitutes have failed to do for us – playing with positivity.

For his goal he made all that effort to get into the space and that was the difference.

Instead of holding on at 1-0 with 10 minutes to go, he was showing the energy to push forwards rather than letting us sit back in our own 18-yard box.

I see Kyle Bennett gets a particularly low mark from you.

I awarded him a five – it would have been a three until he got the assist for Naismith’s goal!

Bennett was not in the game at all and I do worry about his grit to grind out a full League Two season.

He runs into the opposition time after time and people around me were constantly shouting at him.

It’s not abuse, it’s frustration. We know he can do more and you have to have players like him and Roberts in the team to open opposition up.

He has the ability.

And next up – Accrington.

Tuesday’s game is huge, that will once and for all put to bed whether we have any chance of catching the top three.

We cannot afford to lose against a side which is absolutely flying at the moment.

If I was Paul Cook, though, I would focus on securing a play-off place – anything else is a bonus.

Ryan Fulton 8

Ben Davies 6

Christian Burgess 8

Adam Webster 7

Enda Stevens 7

Michael Doyle 7

Danny Hollands 7

Gareth Evans 7

Gary Roberts (Naismith 8) 7

Kyle Bennett 5

Marc McNulty 8