Portsmouth boss Cowley shoulders the blame for 3-1 defeat to Charlton Athletic
Danny Cowley shouldered the blame for Portsmouth’s 3-1 defeat to Charlton Athletic yesterday.
The Addicks ended an eight-game winless spell in League One with victory at Fratton Park on New Year’s Day.
Jesurun Rak-Sakyi fired the South Londoners ahead in the first half but Connor Ogilvie equalised in stoppage time.
Scott Fraser produced an excellent low finish early in the second period to restore the visitors’ lead.
Portsmouth’s prospects took another hit when Marlon Pack was sent off for two bookable offences. The experienced midfielder also saw red in the reverse fixture at The Valley earlier in the season.
George Dobson’s shot deflected back off Owen Dale and over the line to secure a first victory for new Charlton manager Dean Holden.
“All the criticism we get is absolutely fair,” Pompey boss Cowley told BBC Solent. “We didn’t respond well enough from the first minute to the last. We weren’t good enough today and we’re bitterly disappointed. Ultimately it’s my responsibility.
“We went in with the right intention. We made some mistakes, some technical errors, early in the game and lost some confidence off the back of that. We lacked belief and as a consequence of that we lacked intensity and energy in our play.
“Confidence is a fragile commodity. We suffered today as a team. I tried to change it, but to no avail. That was well short of what we expect from ourselves.
“This is elite sport. Not everyone lives this life. Those that do realise that sometimes there is adversity and you have to deal with that. You have to decide, do you become the victim or do you become the fighter? This is your choice. You have to make sure you become the latter.
“[Charlton’s second goal] is the defining moment in the game. We came back out and wanted to play with more belief, more impetus, and then we lose the ball in our own half and their player runs through – we don’t defend the one-v-one moment well enough and we’re 2-1 down.”
PICTURE: KYLE ANDREWS
