Cox frustrated by defending

Mansfield manager Paul Cox was left cursing "seven minutes of bad defending" as his side drew 2-2 with Portsmouth.

Having taken the lead through Ben Hutchinson his Stags conceded twice in four first-half minutes to Andy Barcham and then David Connolly. Substitute Lindon Meikle denied Porstmouth all three points with 19 minutes remaining and Cox felt his side did enough to take all three points. "We played well in the second half and we were unlucky not to win," he said. "Seven minutes of bad defending cost us and that is something we need to eliminate. "We got ourselves in front and we have to learn to go into the break leading. Portsmouth are a good team and good teams will punish you. "The positives are that if we continue to learn as we are doing then we will be a decent team at this level. "We changed formation and looked dangerous. Rhead and Palmer were a real handful when they came on. "We got better in the second half, but did not take our chances and football is all about taking chances." Portsmouth boss Guy Whittingham was equally disappointed that his side did not kick on in the second half after leading at the break. "The lads are a bit dejected in the dressing room that we did not win that game," he said. "We are a big scalp for teams at this level and Mansfield put us under a lot of pressure. They do not make it an easy place to come. "It was important that we hit back after falling behind and it was a good response from the boys. "Andy Barcham looked very dangerous for us, he has been doing that all season. He is an exciting player who can score goals. "The second half was frustrating for us. We felt we defended set pieces very well but one error cost us. We feel we should have held on to our win."