Portsmouth boss airs fears for season ahead as Blues face Accrington postponement

The game at the Crown Ground this week is under threat with the pitch frozen and more low temperatures expected ahead of the weekend.

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That means the Blues could see their third game on the spin called off, after a Covid outbreak at the club saw clashes with Swindon and Bristol Rovers postponed over the festive period.

An inspection is scheduled to take place tomorrow at 1.30pm by referee Bobby Madley, with the pitch covers on at Accrington’s home.

A postponement raises the prospect of severe congestion for Pompey’s schedule as they remain in both the FA Cup and Papa John’s Trophy

The Blues have seven mid-week games scheduled over the second half of the season at present.

With potentially three more to fit in and games constantly being called off in League One due to Covid outbreaks, there’s a realistic proposition the congestion will build further.

Jackett said: ‘We’ve had the call that it’s frozen at Accrington. The pitch is frozen and the temperature is low.

‘Looking at the schedule you don’t know where the game is going to be fitted in either.

‘We can only deal with that as we go along.

‘It will get played somewhere along the line, hopefully.

‘It will be great if it’s this weekend because both sides will be looking forward to playing.

‘Similarly, if the pitch is unplayable there’s nothing anyone can do.

‘We would want to play the game and I’m sure Accrington would as well.

‘It very much depends on what the referee sees and what they estimate (in terms of weather) over the next 24 hours.’

An Accrington postponement will mean Pompey will not have played a competitive game for three weeks by the time the trip to Bristol City arrives next weekend.

That’s a frustration, especially given the momentum Jackett’s side had after top-of-the-table victory against Hull sent the Blues to the League One summit.

The win at the KCOM Stadium on December 18 made it four wins and a draw from five games before the campaign hit the Covid buffers.

Jackett knows the challenge for his players is to try to minimalise the impact of time away from league action and ensure, when their return does arrive, the players come back at a decent level.

He added: ‘The time without a game can’t be helped. These are different times.

‘Our job is keep ticking over, keep fit and be ready when the games do come around.

‘Things like this are out of our control.

‘The squad is looking forward to playing games again and getting back to it. That’s a definite.

‘When the games come around again the key is we have to be ready.’

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