Kenny Jackett's Portsmouth long ball warning

And the Blues boss revealed the steps he’s been taking to ensure his side don’t become too direct this season.

Jackett believes Michael Jacobs is a central figure when it comes to his side being progressive in their build-up play.

The Pompey boss feels his team have shown a tendency to get the ball forward quickly when using certain attacking options in wide areas.

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Jackett has opted to play a 4-4-2 formation for much of this season, with the likes of Marcus Harness, Ryan Williams, John Marquis and Ellis Harrison used through the middle.

Williams and Harness are also options to play down the flanks along with Ronan Curtis, Jacobs and occasionally Andy Cannon.

Jackett explained he’s wary of creating a scenario which encourages Pompey to shell the ball forward and not build up play.

He said: ‘There’s been a few times this season where we’ve not looked right.

‘So the principal has been to narrow the midfield and get more passes in there, work out the process and play with two forwards.

‘I think when you just put out-and-out attackers wide and you just end up with four of them, you do go back to front. You lack the process and an extra pass.

‘In those times and moments the defenders can see the balls coming and the game coming.

‘Quite often playing four attackers for us doesn’t work. We’re not creative enough and we don’t open up teams enough.

‘You need to be able to build up so the likes of Jacobs, Harvey White and Marcus Harness can help us to build up.

‘We need a better pass, better angles and better build-up to create what I would call constructive chances.

‘You can’t be in a situation where you just go back to front.’

White’s second-half introduction against Plymouth on Saturday was with a view to helping Pompey building through the thirds more constructively.

But it’s Jacobs who Jackett views as crucial to helping Pompey to avoid being too direct.

The 29-year-old’s ability to drift infield and impact the game contrasts with Curtis’ more orthodox wing play.

Jackett added: ‘I think that we’ve needed more on the left-hand side in terms of process.

‘A couple of times this season when we haven’t been great we’ve needed to narrow up in midfield and put two people up front.

‘That’s been the basis of it and with the likes of Michael Jacobs he can play inside and play it clever, whereas Ronan goes up the left and up against the full-back.

‘It makes us slightly back to front, that’s what I feel.’

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