Pompey skipper backed to rediscover goalden touch

BRETT PITMAN has been backed to find his goalscoring form again.
Brett Pitman. Picture: Joe PeplerBrett Pitman. Picture: Joe Pepler
Brett Pitman. Picture: Joe Pepler

The Pompey captain drew a blank against Blackburn last night as his side fell to a 2-1 loss.

That made it just one league goal in eight games for the Blues’ leading scorer.

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Pitman has also managed a single league finish in open play in his past 12 outings.

The 29-year-old couldn’t take the chances he carved out in both halves at Fratton Park.

Jackett acknowledged it’s not happening for Pompey’s key man in front of goal at present, but he is pleased with his level of performance.

He said: ‘Brett’s played well on Saturday and against Blackburn.

‘Goals are where he wants to be, though.

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‘If he keeps up the performance level and getting that amount of chances, goals will come for him.’

The supply for Pitman came from both flanks as Dion Donohue and Anton Walkes impressed for the home side.

Jackett felt Pompey could have made more of their threat, with Blackburn’s change in formation presenting the opportunity to do so.

He said: ‘Both our full-backs were influential in our game going forward.

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‘Walkes was unlucky not to score and did well for our goal with a quick bit of thinking.

‘Donohue did well for us again and both were free a lot as well.

‘Our players through the middle needed to work out there was space out wide, after they went to five at the back.

‘When that happens you can put them in a 2v1 situation at the back.

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‘It took us time to pick it up but we did. They then spread again and it evened it out.

‘Tactically you go though different periods in the game.

‘Working those things out and how you adapt is a big thing.

‘Our full-backs had good games and we needed to use them more to create the chances needed to win the game.’

Jackett allayed concerns for Nathan Thompson, who was caught with a late lunge by Lewis Travis in stoppage time which saw the Rovers sub receive a straight red card.

He said: ‘I thought it looked a red. I always thought he was going to send him off, to be honest.

‘Whether you call it over-aggressive, whatever it looked. To me that’s a red.

‘Nathan hasn’t come out of it with any problems, though.’

– JORDAN CROSS