Robins warning

Mark Robins might have been pleased with how his nine Coventry City players admirably fought back - and then held out - at Portsmouth on Tuesday evening, but he let both Fankaty Dabo and Gervane Kastaneer know his feelings on their respective red cards.

Dabo was given his marching orders just after Pompey made it 3-1 thanks to Gareth Evans, before substitute Kastaneer - only on the field for 11 minutes - picked up a second booking shortly after Matt Godden had pulled a goal back from the penalty spot.

“Gervane’s sending off I thought was really, really harsh. He’s just caught him on the follow through because he can’t stop himself from sliding,” Robins said.

“Ultimately it’s given the referee a decision to make and he’s made it. It’s cost us a little bit in terms of what we do ahead of Saturday."

Pompey praise

It might’ve felt like they lost to Coventry City on Tuesday, such was the sequence of events at Fratton Park, but many Portsmouth supporters paid tribute to the Sky Blues’ never-say-die attitude as they claimed an unlikely point in a contest you couldn’t take your eyes off.

Pompey fans, many of whom are now asking questions of manager Kenny Jackett after the failure to see out the victory against nine man City, complimented their visitors on the pitch and those in the away end, too.

Michael Rose was the hero on the night when he reacted quickest to a long throw into the box that had been flicked on.

By this time Fankaty Dabo and Gervane Kastaneer had been sent off, which made their comeback from 3-1 down all the more commendable.

These are the messages from the Pompey fanbase after the enthralling tie.

Peter Thurgood: Gutted with the result and tactics our side. Complete embarrassment but utmost respect to all you Sky Blue fans. Your fans were electric tonight, full of noise and passion on the pitch with 9 men. You deserved more than a point tonight

JackettsJacket : Cov complete opposite to KJ style. Constant movement off ball, looking for angles & triangles to pull players out of position to create space. Closed down as team high up pitch. Last night KJ went against own principle of keep it tight, pulled out of position too much

Big decisions to make

One of the games of the season took place on Tuesday after nine-man Coventry City fought back from two goals down to claim a point in a 3-3 draw with Portsmouth at Fratton Park that will live long in the memory.

Jordy Hiwula handed City the lead inside three minutes, but Ronan Curtis, John Marquis and Gareth Evans turned the game on its head before the hour mark.

Matt Godden then converted a penalty awarded to Liam Kelly, before Michael Rose became the hero when he equalised in the closing stages.

In between, the Sky Blues were reduced to nine men when Fankaty Dabo (at 3-1) and then Gervane Kastaneer (at 3-2) were handed red cards.

Here are the talking points from a quite unique evening.

A different side

We were yet to see this side of Coventry City: The Class of 2019-20 until Tuesday.

After another significant turnover of players in the summer, this group hasn’t been together as a unit all that long.

They of course have begun the season very well, and in their first three matches - albeit one of them against a youthful Bolton side - they were yet to concede a goal.

Two goals down and a man light on the hour mark, you could be forgiven for thinking the match was over as a contest.

Yet this side - typified by new arrivals Godden and Rose - didn’t shirk anything when faced with serious adversity.

It’s particularly encouraging to see that this City outfit has another side to it, that responds when in trouble.

Cov fans react

The Sky Blues faithful - of whom almost 1,000 travelled to the south coast - were understandably delighted and shocked in equal measure.

The consensus on social media was that Mark Robins is assembling a group that could go far this term, despite the off-field adversity the club has faced.

This is the best of the online reaction.

Jamie Smith: Still in a bit of shock from last night’s 3-3 draw, it feels like a victory to be honest. Previous City teams would have given up, this team is different. Robins is building something special here!

Chris Langsford: Not a bad Tuesday night..... great character from the @Coventry_City lads and thoroughly deserved the point. Also who were the 3 people behind me who left at 3-1

ThaGreen_Guy23: Coming from 3-1 down to snatch a point away at one of the division’s fancied teams with only 9 men on the pitch is the sort of thing that goes your way in a promotion season

Clevedon’s Sky Blue: 71% of the worlds surface is covered by water.... the rest is covered by Liam Kelly.....

Garrick Davies: What class from the boys last night! To go, on a Tuesday night, all the way to Portsmouth, be 3-1 down and have the grit and determination to turn it into a result... ABSOLUTE CLASS... I say again, UNDEFEATED SKY BLUE ARMY !!!

Neil White: That was a heck of a long journey home but, boy, was the trip to Portsmouth worth it. The spirit that MR has engendered in this team makes us think anything is possible