Pompey Bottle It

Last updated : 19 April 2016 By Jim Bonner

Pompey's hopes of automatic promotion are over after suffering a disgraceful defeat at relegation threatened York tonight.

The main deficiencies that have plagued Paul Cook's team all reared their ugly heads in this game as the first goal was conceded from a corner with Scot Bennett heading the ball back across goal for an easy finish for Bradley Fewster on the half-hour.

Four minutes later the Minstermen had a second as Pompey were caught on the break and Lewis Allesandra turned in the cross from out wide. To add insult to (literal) injury Adam Webster was injured on the stroke of half-time and replaced with Adam Barton.

The second half also began in dreadful fashion as Luke Summerfield blasted in a third goal from distance and although Gareth Evans pulled one back soon after, Pompey never seemed to look like getting anything from the game and Paul Jones had to produce a number of saves to keep the scoreline becoming even more embarrassing.

There can simply be no excuses for that performance tonight. The players and the manager have to take a hard look at themselves and realise that they've blown it. To lose to a team who are on the verge of relegation and haven't won in twelve matches is totally unacceptable and sympathy must be felt for the 841 fans who travelled to watch that absolute garbage.

If there are any positives to be taken from tonight then it's that the teams just outside the play-off places didn't fare too well, either. Saturday's opponents Wycombe could only manage a goalless draw at home with Yeovil whilst Leyton Orient and Exeter both lost.

So whilst finishing in the top seven still looks a fairly safe bet for Pompey right now, that may change if the Chairboys win at Fratton Park this weekend. And even if Paul Cook's team do claim a play-off place, would you back them to be successful after tonight's woeful display?