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Gillingham manager Steve Evans had mixed emotions after seeing his team boss the second half at Portsmouth but come away with just a point.
There wasn’t much between the teams first half but it was virtually one-way traffic in the second as Vadaine Oliver, John Akinde, Kyle Dempsey, Robbie Cundy and Tommy O’Connor all saw chances go wide of the mark.
Portsmouth started the day fourth in the table but were hanging on at the end. Only a fine save from their goalkeeper in stoppage-time prevented Akinde from snatching a last-gasp winner.
Evans, frustrated by the misses but pleased with the performance, said: “You don’t often go to Fratton Park and miss a host of chances and totally dominate for the second half of the game and that is what happened.
“We went behind when we were defensively sloppy in a couple of challenges and we get back level when Vadaine does well to read that situation (when a defender send a weak pass back to the keeper) to score. Olly Lee forces a brilliant save from the goalkeeper and we had a good halt-time chat with the boys.
“Second half we were terrific. If it is four or five (goals) in the second half then that is justice. We didn’t get anything from Tuesday (at Wimbledon) when we deserved to get all three. We got a point here when we deserved to get all three.
“We are a really pleased, particularly second half, considering the quality of players that Kenny has available. The overriding thing for me is that it is fantastic to see (Portsmouth manager) Kenny Jackett back on the sideline, he has been missing for a few weeks (after surgery to remove a mole on his arm) and we all worried for Kenny, he is a friend of mine. I was buzzing to see him pre kick off.”
It might have been a bad day for Kenny on his return had the Gills taken their chances.
Evans recalled a few, saying: “Vadaine will be disappointed not to hit the target and so will John. Robbie doesn’t get the best connection on it but certainly the balls in from Jordan (Graham) were terrific, he had the left-back on toast for the second half.
“Kyle Dempsey from the edge of the box was an inch or two wide, Tommy O’Connor broke into the box from a half clearance which he should score from and a chance right on the death in the 93rd minute (for Akinde).
“We should have won the game. We didn’t but the performance was very good.”
