Quite clearly, at half time against Oxford, Paul Cook wasn’t a happy man! The Pompey manager could be seen in the tunnel, on his own, for most of the interval…
Pompey assessment – Oxford (a) – click here
I’m guessing he had said all he wanted to and felt it better he got out of the dressing room and left it to the players to ‘reflect’ on the 1st half and Leam Richardson do the rest of the talking!
Just an assumption mind…I have nothing to back that up.
He did tell portsmouthfc.co.uk he wasn’t ‘happy’ with the 1st half when we were ‘really poor’ before ‘taking control’ in the 2nd half:
‘We were really poor and had completely lost our way in the game – we were lucky to still be in it.
‘At half-time I said that if we kept giving the ball away then it would cause us problems – it was the same thing against Morecambe last month.
‘But we showed a lot more maturity after the break and got better, eventually taking complete control.’
There were times; he’s spot on, in the 1st half, even the 2nd half to be honest, when we completely lost the plot!
Thankfully those moments, sometimes of madness, didn’t cost us!
Not only was Adam McGurk, who scored a beauty, given praise Cook went onto add he felt it was a ‘really decent advertisement’ for league two:
‘Adam’s such a good player and he gives us something different and has a bit more of a physical presence than some of the other lads.
‘Both teams played good football at different stages. It was a really decent advertisement for the league.’
All in all though he was happy to take the point!
Especially we had been ‘overrun’ at times, with, as always the travelling support praised:
‘Overall we’re pleased with the point because at one point we were getting overrun.
‘Great credit must go to the supporters for getting behind the players – especially in the last 10 minutes when we really needed them.’
Cookie made a couple of changes for the game, both were forced upon him with Gary Roberts out due to injury, meaning Gareth Evans came in, with a groin injury also keeping out goalie Brian Murphy so Paul Jones came in.
Jones is one of those that has had to bide his time but he took the chance when it came:
‘Paul was excellent and made two important saves in the first half to keep us in the game.
‘We’ve got a lot of players who have patiently been waiting for their chance and he has grasped his.’
That, taking your chance, is all you can do isn’t it when it comes!
I’ve got more thoughts, and views, on the goalie situation but I’ll share them at another point but, despite having high hopes for Murphy I’ve not been entirely impressed and think Jones deserved his chance with it now his ‘place to lose’ you would think…
PLAY UP POMPEY!
Follow @VitalPortsmouth.
2015/16 Prediction League
Bristol Rovers (a) – click here.
Exeter (h) – click here.
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