Boss not happy with opening 45 minutes against Torquay
Richie Barker slammed Pompey’s first half performance as they slumped to defeat against Torquay.
Billy Bodin’s early strike secured all three points for the visitors, with now just goal difference keeping them in the bottom two.
The result also dragged the Blues back into a relegation dogfight and ended a run of four matches unbeaten.
Barker felt that Pompey were much improved after the break, but was left frustrated by his side’s failure to start strongly.
The Blues boss said: “We did more in the second half, but it was too late by then because we’d already gone a goal behind and had wasted 45 minutes.
“We certainly didn’t look an attacking threat and the goal we conceded was disappointing.
“We got stronger as the game went on and in the last half an hour we were by far the better
team.
“But maybe we used up our luck on Tuesday night because nothing really dropped for us.
“I don’t think Torquay had a shot in the second half, but it wasn’t their responsibility to have any because they’d already scored.
“They’re fighting for their lives as much as we are and we had the opportunity to put a bit of daylight between the sides.
“They were never going to roll over and die – they were always going to make things difficult.
“We’re disappointed because we’d enjoyed a good week and it could have been an excellent one.”
Barker will now have to rally his troops ahead of next Saturday’s trip to Exeter.
He said: “We’ve got work to do all over the park, so we’ll crack on with things again on Monday morning.”