May: Pompey young guns can repay manager's faith

Kenny Jackett sent out a starting XI with an average age of just 22.5 against Fleetwood – and they responded by delivering a 2-1 win.

With the Blues’ bench averaging an age of just 19.42, that made the squad’s overall average 21.27.

Despite their tender years, there was a maturity to how Pompey assumed control against the strugglers at Highbury Stadium.

They then dug in as home substitute Conor McAleny produced a moment of quality to reduce the arrears with eight minutes left.

With Brett Pitman and Gareth Evans sidelined and Nathan Thompson suspended, it’s likely to be another youthful side against Blackpool this weekend.

May, 20, believes Jackett’s Juniors can continue to repay the faith being shown in them.

He said: ‘It’s a young side but we did well. The gaffer is showing his faith in young players and we proved we can do it.

‘We could have a similar squad moving forward this weekend.

‘We are a squad and we are in it together. There have been chances for different lads and young lads on the bench as well.

‘There are youth-team lads on the bench but I think there was a maturity there, especially at the end. When it goes to 2-1 they are always going to pile the pressure but we defended brilliantly.

‘Overall I felt we did well and I managed to get on the ball and shift it from side to side.

‘I thought we were looking comfortable but it was a great goal and changed everything. From there they were pushing and we were defending but all the lads dug in and ground it out.’

May looked like he had opened his Pompey goal account with a beautiful 30-yard strike after 70 minutes – only for the ball to come back off the inside of the post.

He said: ‘From my angle it was in – I was off celebrating.

‘On another day it goes in. I would have loved for it to go in!

‘But the main thing was we got the three points and picked up the win.

‘It would have been one of my better goals, that’s for sure.

‘It goes in on another occasion. I need to get my first goal, I know that.

‘I’ll end up getting a lucky goal but I won’t mind that either!’

May reserved praise for the 472 Pompey fans – among a crowd of 2,561 – who made the longest away trip of the season at 285 miles on a Tuesday night.

He said: ‘The fans were brilliant coming all the way here in numbers.

‘It gets you through the game when it’s 2-1 and they are pushing at the end.

‘All you could hear was our fans singing over the home fans. But that’s what they do. They were brilliant.’