Boss unhappy with display at Mansfield
Pompey are still only five points adrift of the top three in League Two following a 1-1 draw at Mansfield.
But automatic promotion feels miles away for Paul Cook, who was critical of his side’s display at the One Call Stadium.
Marc McNulty saw his spot-kick saved after being brought down in the box and Matt Green soon slotted the Stags ahead.
The visitors were gifted an equaliser just before the break, however, when Ryan Tafazolli turned Ben Davies’ cross into his own net.
But that failed to satisfy Cook, who concedes that Pompey are simply not performing to a high enough standard.
The Blues boss said: “We might as well be five points off the moon at the minute and we’re all disappointed with how we’re playing.
“We’re very frustrated by how we played, but anyone who’s watched us all season would say it was a typical Portsmouth performance.
“The referee blew the final whistle and we drew 1-1 – they were my only positives.
“We’ve got this ability at the moment to not keep clean sheets and not create chances – which normally means you’re not a very good team.
“My job is to make these players better and hopefully finish in a position that ensures there’s something still to play for.
“I know that there’s a lot more to come from those guys in the dressing room, but we haven’t got anywhere near that high we reached at Accrington.
“It means another couple of sleepless nights, more headaches and not speaking to my family.”
Pompey have now played out 15 stalemates this season and Cook is not happy with that statistic.
He said: “That’s 19 league games away from home and we’ve only lost three – you should be winning the league with that record.
“It’s a big weekend coming up. Fratton Park will be packed on Friday and we have to bounce back to make our fans believe in us.”