JOHN Coleman was delighted to finish the season with a victory but admitted he wished the campaign would go on for another two months.

The Reds enjoyed a 1-0 win at Portsmouth which made it five games unbeaten to finish in 11th place in League One – their highest place since 1958.

Victory over Pompey followed draws against Charlton, Portsmouth, again, and Sunderland and a 2-1 win over Doncaster which left Coleman wishing the season had gone on.

“The way we have been playing, we are unbeaten in five all against top teams if the season had gone on another two months you would have been fancying us,” he said.

“We know we have had quite a decent season. It could have been better, should have been better but I can’t praise them lads enough.

“They have run through brick walls for me all season.

“We never threw the towel in at any stage and the fact that we have beaten so many of the top teams that is testament to how good a squad we have there.

“We possibly missed a chance this year but we have another chance next year.”

Adam Phillips scored the only goal of the game at Fratton Park which saw Portsmouth drop out of the play-off places.

Coleman added: “It’s no fun raining on people’s parades but we had to win for our own sanity and we wanted to finish in the top half, that’s the highest we have finished since ‘58.”