Portsmouth striker makes frank admission on Oxford play-off own goal as he looks ahead to new season
Ellis Harrison has held his hands up to the Oxford own goal that contributed to Pompey’s play-off downfall.
But the striker insists he's not dwelling on his error as he prepares to go one better in the Blues' latest League One promotion push.
Kenny Jackett's side fell to play-off semi-final defeat against the U's last month.
Pompey lost on 5-4 penalties, following a 2-2 draw over 220 minutes of football.
The Blues were ahead 2-1 on aggregate during the second-leg tie at the Kassam Stadium, but Oxford levelled before the interval when Harrison headed into his own net.
The Welshman has taken responsibility for that unfortunate intervention, though, rather than pinning any blame on keeper Alex Bass.
However, he's putting that to the back of his mind as Pompey start the new campaign at Stevenage on Saturday in the Carabao Cup first round.
Harrison said: ‘It was very disappointing and a tough pill to swallow to lose on penalties.
‘I scored the own goal, it went down as an own goal and I take full responsibility. I should have cleared it.
‘I don't want to say too much on it but there was a mix-up.
‘I heard they were trying to sort out having goal-line technology for six hours before the game and it's gone against us.
‘It's easy to blame the goal-line technology, though, and I've held my hands up. I was gutted it happened but I'm not going to dwell on it.
‘The season starts on Saturday and I'm not going to sit here and make excuses for myself.
‘I've got to go again, do what I did last season and then even more.’
Pompey's League One campaign starts when Shrewsbury visit Fratton Park on Saturday, September 5.
While there is still some pain from the heartbreak at Oxford, Harrison's wary the Shrews will have little sympathy and the Blues must focus on that clash.
He added: ‘In the first leg against Oxford, we should have had a few penalties but it's could have, should have, would have.
‘It wasn't to be but we can't sit back and dwell on that now.
‘We can't play Shrewsbury and think: “We should have beat Oxford” because Shrewsbury won't care about us.
‘We've got to start well, do well and see where it takes us.
‘We'll take every game as it comes because we can't think about what's gone on.’