Jackett so frustrated by bizarre own-goal

KENNY Jackett cut a disappointed figure after a cruel injurytime own-goal robbed his Pompey side of victory.

Liam Sercombe’s left-wing corner deflected off the knee of defender

Ross McCrorie on to the underside of the crossbar, before the ball went in off goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray, to gift Rovers an unlikely point.

The visitors had led through Gareth Evans’ penalty and a Ronan Curtis header, before Alex Rodman gave Rovers hope 12 minutes from time.

Jackett said: “It was like a double own-goal at the end. Ross has got his attempted clearance wrong and then our keeper gets the final touch.

“Three points were there for us and the end of the game was really frustrating because we have conceded from two set-pieces.

“We want to play good football and score goals, both of which we did. But another important quality is the ability to see games out and we haven’t done that.”

Pompey took a ninth-minute lead from the spot after Luke Leahy was judged to have impeded John Marquis as he looked to make contact with a leftwing cross. Evans produced a sweetly struck penalty to beat the dive of Anssi Jaakkola, who went on to keep Rovers in the game with some fine saves.

Portsmouth doubled their advantage after 70 minutes, Marquis producing a quality cross from the right for Curtis to head powerfully into the roof of the net from close range.

Rodman got one back with a low left-footed drive from 10 yards after 78 minutes, after the Pompey defence had failed to clear a ball into their box.

But it looked no more than a consolation until the owngoal provided a final twist.

Rovers boss Graham Coughlan said: “Barring a ten-minute spell in the first half when our keeper has made a couple of good saves, we limited Portsmouth to counter-attacks. I didn’t see what the penalty was given for and I don’t think anyone else did either. If soft ones like that are awarded it will ruin our game.

“We have had a tough week and it was so unjust when we were two goals down because we turned in a good performance.

“The lads could easily have folded and I am proud of them.”