Pompey boss keen to feel at home again

The out-of-form Blues have failed to deliver a single victory at Fratton Park since the turn of the year.

Pompey have collected just two points from a possible 15 at PO4 in 2018.

Saturday’s defeat to Blackpool was their third of the year on home soil, following on from losses to Shrewsbury and Blackburn.

Meanwhile, Jackett’s troops were also held to draws against Scunthorpe and Doncaster as their play-off hopes have been hit.

It’s a contrasting situation to the Blues’ form on their own patch at the back end of 2017.

The 3-1 victory over Northampton on December 30 was Pompey’s fifth straight success – after wins over Southend, Plymouth, Bury and AFC Wimbledon.

Victory over the Cobblers moved the Blues into League One’s top six for the first time this season.

But with his side now ninth in the table, following an overall record of six losses, two draws and two wins in the current calender year, Jackett has admitted he can’t find a particular reason why Pompey’s home form has ebbed away.

The manager said: ‘Up until Christmas we had been very good at home.

‘But I can’t really put my finger on why we haven’t followed that through into January or February.

‘We picked up two wins away from home in recent weeks at Fleetwood and MK Dons – two sides battling for their lives – and they were very good wins.

‘Had we followed those up with good home form that we had up until Christmas, even now the table would be looking a lot different.

‘A few points would make a difference and we’d be a lot closer (to the play-offs) in a period where we have picked up wins away from home.

‘The crowd that we’ve got is a major advantage for us to be able to play well.

‘We’ve got a crowd that are coming to try to get behind the team.’

Jackett reckons his side will need to record 75 points if they’re to clinch a play-off place.

At present they have 49, meaning a further 26 points are required from their remaining 11 matches.

If that’s the case, Pompey can only afford to drop seven more points between now and the end of the season.

Jackett knows not a lot of margin for error is left.

‘There’s not a lot of room left to play with,’ he added.

‘After beating MK Dons, we were looking to pick up points and capitalise on it by taking it to Blackburn and Blackpool at home.

‘They were big opportunities that we didn’t take.

‘As you start getting down to the final dozen games it is a big run that you need.

‘Traditionally, 75 points gets you in the play-offs.

‘That is something we have got to keep in mind.

‘We’ve got big games coming up at home and away.

‘Bradford is a tough place to go and we want to find that consistency both on the road and at home if we can.’