Boss reflects on Doncaster defeat
Seven days can be a long time in football.
This time last week saw everyone connected with Pompey basking in a 5-1 demolition of Barnet at Fratton Park.
But now the mood has changed following back-to-back defeats against Blackpool and Doncaster.
Rovers took advantage of some sloppy defending to ease into a two-goal lead on the south coast, courtesy of strikes from John Marquis and Andy Williams.
Carl Baker provided some hope with an emphatic finish before the break and also hit the crossbar after it, while Gary Roberts' header was cleared from the line.
But the hosts failed to find an equaliser and Paul Cook knows they cannot afford to be so slow out of the traps.
The Blues boss said: “It was always going to be a tough game against a very good side, but we certainly didn’t start well enough.
“We found ourselves two goals down – and deservedly so. We tried to get back up and scrap, but never really found any fluidity.
“People love coming to Fratton Park to play football and Doncaster had a work ethic to go with their quality.
“We took control of the game once we matched them for that, but we couldn’t get that second goal.
“There were chances in the second half and Doncaster relied on breakaways. If we’d have got one we would have been delighted because 2-2 is okay.
“I thought we deserved to get something from the game, but sometimes you pay the price if you don’t start well.
“We left the stadium last week feeling so high and now you can feel the disappointment around the place.
“It felt like we’d cracked it and everything was great with the world, but two games later and the confidence can drain away.
“We’ve conceded sloppy goals from individual mistakes in the last couple of matches and that’s something we have to eradicate quickly.”
Watch Cook’s thoughts on the game below or subscribe to Pompey PlayerHD for full post-match reaction.