Kenny Jackett responds to Peterborough owner's claims Portsmouth are title favourites

And the Blues boss played down the notion of rivals trying to ramp up the pressure on his players by branding them the team to beat in the Championship race.

Peterborough owner Darragh MacAnthony this week highlighted Jackett’s men as the main contenders to go up, as we approach the season’s halfway point.

It’s a stance echoed by the bookies who currently have Pompey a best-priced 7/4 for the title.

SUBSCRIBE today for the latest Pompey updates

Jackett is comfortable being handed that tag, but highlighted there’s much that could yet happen in the most uncertain of football seasons.

He said: ‘Well, first off it’s a real compliment from a very experienced chairman. We take it as that.

‘Similarly, we’re not even halfway through the season yet.

‘A lot can happen, as we know, not just in football generally but also the Covid situation ripping through the country and the industry as well.

‘We want to retain some consistency and we take it as a compliment definitely.

‘But there’s over half the season to go and a lot can happen.

‘Any one game won’t define our season, but similarly we have to attack every game because they’re all important.

‘Getting to 80-plus points is where you need to go if you want to be successful.’

There’s little doubt taking on the mantle of title favourites brings pressure to Pompey’s camp.

But Jackett doesn’t view others like MacAnthony affording the Blues that tag as an attempt to turn up the heat on his players.

Jackett added: ‘I think that’s Darragh and he’s very open.

‘He’s very good and he’s very experienced, so I don’t think that’s it.

‘Anyway myself and my players take that as a compliment from someone who has a lot of experience in football.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

The News has launched a new subscription offer which gives you unlimited access to all of our Pompey coverage, starting at less than £1 a week.

You can subscribe here to get the latest news and transfer updates from Fratton Park - and to support our local team of expert Pompey writers.