“Fans frustrations understandable. But like to hear old-style ‘wall of noise’ at Fratton now. It’s what team needs.”

BT Sport commentator and Pompey fan, Ian Darke has given a rallying cry to Blues’ fans ahead of the remaining nine fixtures which includes key Easter weekend games against Notts County and AFC Wimbledon.

Pompey returned from Mansfield with a solitary point which moved them onto 60 points in 6th place. Marc McNulty saw his penalty saved by the Stags’ keeper, before the home side took the lead through Matt Green.

But the Blues’ hit back just before half-time when Ryan Tafazolli turned a Ben Davies corner into his own net.

The result was frustrating and Cook cut a dejected figure in his post-match interviews.

“We might as well be five points off the moon at the minute and we’re all disappointed with how we’re playing.

We’re very frustrated by how we played, but anyone who’s watched us all season would say it was a typical Portsmouth performance.

The referee blew the final whistle and we drew 1-1 – they were my only positives.

That’s 19 league games away from home and we’ve only lost three – you should be winning the league with that record.

It’s a big weekend coming up. Fratton Park will be packed on Friday and we have to bounce back to make our fans believe in us.”

With the promotion race hotting up, Pompey could have been sitting in the automatic promotion places – if they had picked up maximum points against Newport and Mansfield.

The Blues’ have nine matches left to play and whilst the play-offs look the most likely outcome, mathematically third position remains in reach.

Ian Darke added: “The recent atmosphere at Fratton has been quiet and tense which transmits to players perhaps. I think some felt this team would stroll it. But it is what is is now. The right atmosphere will help from here on.”

Post-Easter, Pompey face Carlisle Utd, Plymouth Argyle, Wycombe Wanderers and Northampton at Fratton, with trips to Dagenham & Redbridge, York City and Hartlepool to come.

In recent seasons, between 78 and 85 points have been required to secure third in League 2:

82 – 09/10 Rochdale
80 – 10/11 Wycombe W
84 – 11/12 Crawley
78 – 12/13 Port Vale
81 – 13/14 Rochdale
85 – 14/15 Bury

Whereas, between 68 and 72 points has been sufficient to finish in the last play-off place of 7th:

72 – 09/10 Dagenham & Redbridge
68 – 10/11 Torquay
72 – 11/12 Crewe
68 – 12/13 Bradford
71 – 13/14 York
71 – 14/15 Plymouth

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