Gaffer: A perfect 10 for Portsmouth's Marcus Harness - he couldn't have done much more against Burton

A Pompey display to savour then!

That was a much better performance from Pompey. It looked like it was going to be one of those days again when we conceded two poor goals.

I had also written this game off in my head when Ellis Harrison lunged in with that tackle. I thought he was going to get a straight red, but when I saw the replay it looked like he lost his footing so it was a good decision from the referee in the end.

If we had have gone down to 10 men at that point it would have been game over. However, at full strength we looked much the better team, especially in the second half. I think Michael Jacobs will be key for us.

What were your thoughts when you saw the starting XI?

I did shake my head when I saw the team sheet because I thought Kenny would have replaced Bryn Morris, but you’d have to say that he was pretty steady.

I also couldn’t understand why Jacobs wasn’t in the 10 position. We’ve been crying out for someone in that role for ages and then he gets played on the left.

Harness in the middle is a bit hit and miss usually, but he was outstanding.

He absolutely terrorised their defence and looked like a world beater. Let’s hope he can continue with that form, but not to the point where someone comes in for him before the window closes!

You said you wanted Harrison to start. Right call?

Definitely. He suits that lone striker role much more than John Marquis.

My concern is should he get injured then we have no-one else who can really play that position. It’s obvious Marquis can’t.

It’s a long old season, I think we’re going to be stuck if Harrison should be missing.

He holds the ball up so much better, is good in the air and offers more much threat up front. He’s a quality centre-forward.

And you gave Harness a 10.

I know things have been so doom and gloom recently, but Harness couldn’t have done much more than he did against Burton. For me, that warranted a 10.

I suppose he can be inconsistent, if he could play like that every game then he wouldn’t be in League One, he’d be much higher.

Overall, it was a much-improved performance from Pompey and something to lift the spirits of the supporters. Hopefully we can push on from here and start moving up the table.

And, looking at how we marked each goal with all the players celebrating together, there didn’t look like any dissent within the ranks.

Craig MacGillivray 8

Callum Johnson 8

Sean Raggett 7

Jack Whatmough 9

Lee Brown 8

Bryn Morris 7

Tom Naylor 8

Michael Jacobs 9

Marcus Harness 10

Ryan Williams 7 (Ronan Curtis 7)

Ellis Harrison 8

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