‘I’m sure they were’: Derby County boss John Eustace's subtle Portsmouth dig after Pride Park draw
Pompey held Derby County to a 1-1 draw at Park Park on Saturday afternoon.
John Eustace is adamant Derby County did enough to earn victory against Pompey on Saturday afternoon.
And the head coach even joked after the Blues’ full-time celebrations after the point at Pride Park.
It was an thrilling end-to-end affair in Derbyshire, with Pompey taking the lead through Callum Lang after just six minutes before a Hayden Mathews own goal levelled on the stroke of half time.
Both sides had opportunities to steal the maximum points in the second period, with the hosts denied by an outstanding save by Nicolas Schmid in the dying stages to keep the scores level.
And Eustace admitted his Derby side were frustrated by Pompey after the break due to their game management.
John Eustace on Derby draw with Pompey
He told BBC Radio Derby: ‘It's a great point from the way we started after going a goal down. To get a point is good but we wanted all three, really disappointed we didn’t win the game for sure.
‘In the second half we had to show a lot of composure, a bit more quality, a bit more patience with the build but on another day we could’ve got all three points.
‘To get another point in the right direction is pleasing but we’re halfway through the season there’s so much more hard work to come from the group. We’re learning and devloping all the time.
‘It's another game where we get another point and now we’re on 31 points which isn’t bad return going into the second half.
‘I thought the first five minutes we started really well, we certainly settled in then.
‘We went a goal down and then for about 15 minutes after I thought we were excellent, created a lot of pressure but then we lost our way. We scored a really good equaliser then second half a very scrappy game.
‘Portsmouth keeping the ball without going anywhere, which was kind of frustrating at times. We still had good structure and good shape on the ball always looked a threat on the transition.
‘It’s just that final third, the decision making wasn’t good enough.’
Derby boss on Pompey’s celebrations
The point at Pride Park ensured Pompey remained above the bottom three heading into the Christmas period.
Mousinho’s men celebrated the point in front of the 2,007 travelling members of the Fratton faithful after the game, with the Blues now unbeaten in their past two matches.
‘I’m sure they were,’ Eustace replied when asked if he thought Pompey celebrated as if they stole the victory.
‘We wanted to go and win the game and we could’ve maybe nicked it at the end there. We were loose on the ball today at vital times we needed to look after the ball better but we’re growing, we’re building and we’re learning from it.
‘We’ve got to find different solutions at home and away to break teams down. No team is going to make it easy for you but the effort of the group was amazing today and they kept going.’