'The goals were soft': Terry McPhillips on Blackpool's defeat to Portsmouth

Terry McPhillips tasted defeat in his first game in charge as temporary boss

MATCH REPORT: Blackpool 1-2 Portsmouth

Ronan Curtis was the star of the show for Portsmouth as his two goals proved to be the difference, although Mark Cullen's late goal reduced the arrears.

Cullen, scoring for the first time since Pool's League Two play-off final win in May 2017, thought he had bagged an injury-time equaliser only for his opportunistic effort to be ruled out for offside.

McPhillips, taking charge of the Seasiders for the first time since Gary Bowyer's resignation on Monday, said his side were made to pay for their mistakes.

“It’s been a difficult week and it’s not the result we wanted," he said.

“We started ever so well for the first few minutes but after that, they were better than us in the first half - that’s for sure.

“The goals were soft. So was ours, to be fair. All three were bad goals to concede.

“We paid for our mistakes but our response was terrific.

“I think just before they score their second goal Delfouneso has a good chance. But that’s football, isn’t it?

“If you score that you’re back in the game, but they go down the other end and it’s 2-0. It’s a mountain to climb from there.

“I think the subs all came on and made a difference. We were a handful and played better.

“We created some chances and the one at the end is just fine margins, it was just offside.

“But that’s it, we’ll have to dust ourselves down and get back to work on Monday.”

Curtis Tilt was missing from the squad for the second week running, despite remaining a Blackpool player following Thursday's transfer deadline.

On the defender's absence, McPhillips said: “Tily reported ill. He looked very bad.

“There was no decision to make as he had been sick in the night and he looked awful.”