Danny Cowley has plenty of pondering to do ahead of Pompey's awkward looking visit to Rotherham on Saturday after an EFL Trophy flop against Sutton.

The Blues lost 2-0 to the League Two newcomers in their second group game to make progress towards a third successive final in the contest highly unlikely.

The team was a mixture of regulars and fringe men - and very few came out of the insipid display with much credit.

Cowley told the club website: 'It was a difficult night and things obviously didn’t unfold the way we wanted. It’s disappointing and frustrating in equal measure. We weren’t able to find our rhythm and have to congratulate our opponents because Sutton showed an energy and desire.

'They fought for everything, were quick to the ball, played with a real directness and asked questions of us. I was really disappointed with the top end of the pitch. We wanted to use our squad players in this competition and Harry Jewitt-White would have played, but he picked up a quad injury with Wales.

'You hope that they take that opportunity, but there were many on this occasion that just didn’t do that. Six days earlier that group went to Bournemouth for a friendly and were excellent, but if you want to be a good player then you have to bring a consistent performance.'

Pompey sit 12th as they head to 5th-placed Rotherham on Saturday with a number of new injury worries after the Sutton defeat, and with Ronan Curtis banned for five bookings.

Photo: Action Images

Portsmouth Polls