Gaffer: Crewe and MK Dons can have all the possession they want - but Portsmouth boast a potent attack

A rather strange match wasn’t it?

Yes, I would say the 2-0 lead at half-time flattered us. Although we are quite potent up front.

Crewe can have all the possession they want, just like MK Dons did when they came to Fratton Park. The difference is we are a threat in attack.

Even in that first half, we looked more dangerous than Crewe despite limited possession.

Once it was 4-0, the game petered out, they were not going to hurt us. We were happy to give them the ball because Crewe didn’t have any end product.

What did you make of Kenny Jackett’s half-time substitutions?

It was crying out for both Haji Mnoga and Cam Pring to be taken off, especially as we were 2-0 up and Crewe were looking dangerous out wide.

Mnoga looks like Adam Webster at full-back, he didn’t know whether to stick or twist. There’s no harm in playing him, though.

Lee Brown and Callum Johnson came on and introduced experience – then the goal straight after half-time killed Crewe.

It’s quite unusual for Jackett to make an early call like that, so credit to him. He got it absolutely right.

And now League One’s leading scorers.

We have now all realised this is a team which scores goals. The squad looks really good.

To think all these goals are going in when we have John Marquis, who must score one in every five chances he gets!

To be born a lucky centre-forward is better than being born an unlucky centre-forward.

Elsewhere, Andy Cannon is doing a good job, but has no real end product and we need a slighty better model in there.

Ben Thompson would be the ideal icing on the cake in January.

Who stood out for you?

Normally it would be Ronan Curtis, but on this occasion I’m giving it to Craig MacGillivray.

He was under a bit of pressure following his mistake at Plymouth, another one and he could have been out of the side after Crewe.

What a response, though, from someone I regard as far better than Alex Bass. MacGillivray is a real presence in goal, he’s a unit who gives a bit of security.

I thought it was very harsh to drop him against Gillingham last season.

Craig MacGillivray 8

Haji Mnoga 5 (Callum Johnson 7)

Jack Whatmough 7

Sean Raggett 7

Cam Pring 5 (Lee Brown 7)

Marcus Harness 6

Tom Naylor 8

Andy Cannon 7

Ronan Curtis 8

Ellis Harrison 6

John Marquis 7

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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