Yeovil win was never in doubt for Appy

Not when Pompey failed to add to their lead or when Reuben Reid netted with a second-half penalty.

In the end, Gabor Gyepes’ 78th-minute strike gave the Blues a 2-1 win – and a second successive victory.

There may have been some among the 1,297 away following fearing the worst on occasions against a side who had previously lost five on the bounce.

But a relaxed Appleton had complete faith his team would get there.

He said: ‘I was not really too panicky or worried at any point, really, I felt we had two or three goals in us.

‘That is what I said to the players at half-time and that is how it turned out.

‘At the time of the penalty, they were having their best period of the game and I knew we would have another period in the game, whether that was just after the goal or in the last 10 minutes.

‘I knew at some point we would get a little bit of momentum and have another period in the game and we missed some glorious chances in the second half as well as the first.

‘I think it was always going to be a counter-attacking performance, especially in the second half because we knew they would come at us.

‘We just had to stay strong.’

Appleton admitted Lee Williamson should have known better after conceding a penalty.

The midfielder felled Nathan Ralph with a slide tackle and the Blues boss has already spoken to him over that decision.

Appleton added: ‘I spoke with Willo after the game about staying on his feet in the box. Someone of his experience, you wouldn’t normally expect that.

‘As soon as he goes to ground you are fearing the worst and that was my first thought. Stay on your feet – if someone slides in then you are asking for trouble.

‘Willo has got to be more professional and stay on his feet.’