Micky Mellon happy with gritty Town

Town once again showed their resolve after coming from behind to win 2-1 at Greenhous Meadow once a third minute Jed Wallace penalty had put Pompey ahead.

However, goals from James Wesolowski and Connor Goldson secured the three points with Town having to dig deep as they failed to find the free-flowing football they have shown of late.

Mellon said: "You have got to win games in different ways and we showed we can do that today.

"I think we went behind from a really poor penalty but we have sorted that out and we won't be defending like that again.

"To be fair to the boys they knew if they kept clam and kept grinding away then they would get their moments and we scored through a brilliant Wesolowski goal.

"That calmed us down. Portsmouth were well organised and they showed us a lot of respect by dropping off and giving us control of the game.

"But my players kept going and they deserved what they got today."

Shrewsbury also came from behind to beat Cheltenham and, while pleased with how his side responded, Mellon doesn't want it to keep happening.

He said: "Going behind is not a habit I want to keep getting into. We are disappointed with our start but from that moment on we showed a lot of guts and determination.

"Our fans played a massive part in that, as did the Portsmouth fans. I thought it was a fantastic atmosphere with two sets of fans who came here to be heard."

Town won the game from miss-hit Connor Goldson cross which the defender later admitted was a fluke.

"He practices them all the time in training," Mellon joked.

"But we do tell them to get it into dangerous areas when given the opportunity, especially when you are playing against two blocks of four.

"He has stuck it in there and given them something to defend and on this occasion the goalkeeper hasn't been good enough to deal with it."