ALAN Ball did not believe a 6-1 aggregate beating was a fair reflection of his team's efforts over the two legs of their Worthington Cup tie against Blackburn Rovers.
But the Portsmouth boss admitted that Rovers were "light years" ahead in one respect - closing down his players.
Ball did feel that Pompey were in with a chance of an upset at one stage, especially after Alan McLoughlin had made it 1-3 on aggregate with his early strike. And they were desperately close to a second just before half time.
But the task proved too much as Rovers always threatened to score themselves.
"In all fairness, in the two games we have played, we looked a team," said Ball. "We smacked the ball about last week for about 25 or 30 minutes. But they worked as hard in the two games against us as any team we have played.
"Right to the end of the game last night there was one blatant difference between the two teams over the two legs.
"The closing down of Blackburn was light years better than ours and they outworked us in the two games.
"We played some nice stuff, inventive stuff and could have got back in the game.
"And we should have been back in the game last week, but we have been beaten 6-1 on aggregate."
There was a nice touch from Portsmouth when, with the tie settled, they sent on veteran Alan Knight as an 84th-minute substitute to allow the keeper to make his 800th senior appearance for the club.
Knight received a standing ovation from the Rovers fans and Ball was delighted for him.
"To play 800 games for one club in this day and age is absolutely wonderful. He's done fantastically well," said Ball.
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