Boss critical after Doncaster loss
Paul Cook slammed his players for a shambolic and arrogant performance at Doncaster.
Pompey recovered from falling behind to John Marquis’ header when Kal Naismith drilled home a leveller just before the break.
But Tommy Rowe restored the league leaders’ advantage before Marquis – who previously spent time on loan at Fratton Park – wrapped things up.
And Cook was annoyed that the visitors were guilty of gifting their opponents the ball on so many occasions.
The Blues boss said: “We’ve prided ourselves lately on starting games properly, but we were an absolute shambles in the first 5-10 minutes.
“We conceded a sloppy goal and that’s always going to happen if you don’t do things correctly.
“But I then thought we took control of the game until half-time and thoroughly deserved to get back level.
“You expect us to go on and win from that point, but instead we were punished for giving the ball away so cheaply in the middle third of the pitch.
“Doncaster are a good side and we have to give them credit for being at the top of the table, although there’s still a long way to go.
“But if you don’t respect your opponents and don’t respect possession of the ball then teams like them will hurt you – and that’s exactly what they did.
“We’ve got an arrogance about us at times that just isn’t correct. It should come off the back of victories, but sometimes we show it before we’ve won and that’s not a good trait.
“I say all the time that it’s only at the end of the season that the plaudits are dished out, so we just have to concentrate on the next game.
“And I have to praise the travelling Pompey fans who made such a long journey to support us on a Thursday night.”