Gaffer: Recent Portsmouth results have convinced me Kenny Jackett deserves more time

After three years, Kenny Jackett has finally realised that you need two up front – and now we’re seeing the results.

Poor John Marquis has looked isolated up there, yet his record speaks for itself. If you supply him with the service then he will score goals.

I’ve felt sorry for him since he’s been at Pompey, he works so hard without much support. Now he has Marcus Harness to help.

Against Northampton, after Ryan Watson’s bad miss we pretty much controlled the game and played football for once instead of lumping the ball forward and waiting for it to drop.

We are keeping the ball on the deck at the moment and it’s working – we’re on a winning run.

If you had asked me about the future of Kenny Jackett three weeks ago you would have got an expletive.

At least six times I wanted him gone last season, starting with that embarrassing draw against Coventry. He should also have been dismissed the minute the final whistle sounded in the play-offs against Oxford United.

But I’m happy at the moment. I’m happy with the way we are playing, I’m happy with the results, although I wouldn’t be happy if we had continued to play like we did against Doncaster.

So I would give Kenny Jackett more time. Let’s have a look at it again at Christmas. If we are still playing the same way he should stay.

As for the team against Charlton, I always like to make one change to keep things fresh, but you also shouldn’t change a winning side.

It’s a shame that Michael Jacobs is injured, but Ronan Curtis came in against Northampton and scored a cracking goal.

I think the midfield is our strongest area, with Andy Cannon and Tom Naylor really good in there, while our defence is solid too.

Sean Raggett scares the living daylights out of me, but he’s a good defender who wins his headers. I just pray Jack Whatmough doesn’t get injured again.

Pompey (4-4-2): MacGillivray, Johnson, Whatmough, Raggett, Brown, Williams, Naylor, Cannon, Curtis, Harness, Marquis.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

The News has launched a new subscription offer which gives you unlimited access to all of our Pompey coverage.

You can subscribe here to get the latest news and transfer updates from Fratton Park - and to support our local team of expert Pompey writers.