Curle bemoans Cobblers' deficiencies at both ends of the pitch following Pompey beating

Despite the final scoreline, Town were the better team in the first-half and should have scored at least one with Ryan Watson missing a golden opportunity 16 minutes in.

Pompey then dished out a lesson in clinical finishing as John Marquis scored either of half-time before Ronan Curtis and Marcus Harness rubbed salt into the wounds.

"The scoreline was flattering for them," said Curle.

"We caused them problems in the first-half and had two great opportunities.

"For the goalkeeper to not even make a save is disappointing and that's the lack of clinical finishing which you need in both boxes in this division.

"They showed their quality when the game expanded but in the first-half we nullified them and created the better chances in the game.

"We kept them down to one shot and one other effort where the goalkeeper made a good save.

"We had two great opportunities but goals change games and we need to defend our box better.

"The build-up to their goals is disappointing. The first one, we've just allowed him to come inside and it's a speculative shot, the goalkeeper makes a save and they react first.

"We then have a similar opportunity and you have to put it in the back of the net because goals change games, but we didn't."