Solving faults will have Pompey reaching for stars

But they failed to make their way back from Devon with all the points.

And until they eradicate the familiar deficiencies in their game such results will remain.

Paul Cook’s post-match debrief in a dusty corner of Plymouth’s home quite rightly accentuated the positives in the wake of another white-knuckle showdown with the Pilgrims.

Managerial accounts of their team’s performances have been known to be seen through one-eyed prisms on such occasions.

Cook was justified in delivering the conviction his team were the superior across another intriguing match-up with the leaders, however.

And he is now seeing his Pompey Mk II become a side playing in the kind of image he wants to portray.

Fourteen shots to Argyle’s eight was a reasonable reflection of proceedings.

But there was also a certain angst-ridden poetry to the two goals which undid the Blues at the back.

The first, in Groundhog Day fashion, arrived after an opening 20 minutes in which Cook’s side were slowly assuming a stranglehold on the game after the initial jousting.

Inevitably, it had to be a free-kick which did the damage.

So Yann Songo’o joins Ryan Edwards (Morecambe), Bevis Mugabi (Yeovil) and Kelvin Mellor (Blackpool) in being the recipient of Pompey’s inability to deal with set-pieces.

And don’t forget Joseph Mendes (Reading under-23s) and John Akinde (Barnet) who have reaped the benefit of spot-kicks being conceded from a free-kick and corner respectively.

On Saturday, Songo’o’s goal paved the way for Pompey’s set-piece self doubt to surface again.

Derek Adams’ side smelled blood and went for the jugular.

The period was weathered but not without an air of defensive panic being clearly exhibited again by the Blues.

In general play, it’s a different story.

Pompey’s swagger is warranted when they match their talent with the levels of graft exhibited in Devon.