A Portsmouth midsummer nightmare which simply can't happen again

And if it was a work written by William Shakespeare, it would be no comedy. There was little to laugh about.

Instead, it’d be a tragedy akin to Romeo and Juliet or Othello.

A year ago today, Pompey were held to a 3-3 draw with Coventry.

As infamous Blues matches go, it’s up there with some of the very worst in recent years.

If someone from the Shakespearean era was time travelled to the end of the 2019-20 season and looked at the result and league table in isolation then they’d probably wonder what all the south-coast hysteria was about.

The Sky Blues would go on to capture the League One title by five points, while Kenny Jackett’s side finished four places and seven points adrift, missing out on promotion via the play-offs.

However, we all know why Pompey fans were incensed leaving Fratton Park after that stalemate with the Sky Blues – and they had every right to be.

The hosts had thrown away a two-goal lead and victory against a Coventry side that had two players sent-off.

Now, it's worth mentioning that Mark Robins' troops didn't score twice when down to nine men.

But the visitors were already a player down when they reduced the arrears to one goal, giving them hope after appearing dead and buried.

From going a goal down after just three minutes, strikes from Ronan Curtis, John Marquis and Gareth Evans put Pompey firmly in the driving seat.

On 56 minutes, Jackett's side were 3-1 up and looked set to bounce back following defeat to Sunderland three days earlier.

And when Coventry's Fankaty Dabo received his second yellow card for handball three minutes later, it wouldn't be a shock if the bookies suspended all in-play bets on a Blues victory.

The Sky Blues gave themselves a modicum of hope when Ben Close's foul gifted Matt Godden a strike from the penalty spot with 15 minutes remaining.

But when Gervane Kastaneer became the second visiting player to be handed his marching orders, again the tide firmly swung in Pompey's favour.

However, the home side had looked frail defensively all evening, with summer signings Sean Raggett and Ross McCrorie shaky.

Jackett attempted to see out the game by bringing on Christian Burgess to add solidity in the rearguard.

That tactical decision exasperated sections of fans, though, citing it was too negative and an extra attacker to kill of the game was instead required.

Pompey started dropped deeper despite their sizeable numerical advantage and they'd be punished.

A long throw-in wasn't defended properly and Michael Rose snatched an 86th-minute equaliser.

Supporters unsurprisingly left PO4 infuriated at what they'd witnessed and that sentiment still remains 12 months on.

It was a result that typified Pompey's stuttering opening to the campaign, which ultimately cost them automatic promotion.

As a consequence, Jackett's come under pressure from significant contingents of supporters.

The boss remains fully backed by the Blues board, though, heading into the new campaign.

However, the need for a fast start as unrest among fans remains is imperative.

Results like Coventry simply cannot happen again in the upcoming season. Let’s not forget similar points from winning positions were dropped against the likes of Bristol Rovers, Sunderland, Blackpool and Oxford, too.

If Pompey are to make a return to the Championship round and Jackett's to win back over some of his detractors then throwing away such commanding positions need to be like King John or Richard III – a Shakespeare history.