Gaffer: You can't be critical of 4-0 Portsmouth win, but we shouldn't be measuring ourselves against Northampton

So James, has your stance towards Kenny Jackett softened a little?

Not at all, we still need to get rid of him. Two good performances in a row doesn’t change facts.

It doesn’t erase two abysmal play-off semi-finals, it doesn’t erase the football which has mostly been like watching paint dry during his tenure.

Whether this turnaround has been through Jackett or players, I don't know. Perhaps there was a Michael Doyle-esqe speech among the players at one point?

The manager has changed the formation and credit where it's due, you have to give him praise. But my view on him will not change.

Didn’t you enjoy it, though?

You cannot be too critical of a 4-0 win. We were clinical, controlled the game and it was as comfortable victory as I have seen in League One.

However, we didn’t get out of third gear. We never needed to, so I wouldn’t make a song and dance over the size of the scoreline.

I know a lot of people are ecstatic on social media, but we shouldn’t be measuring ourselves against Northampton. We should be putting them to the sword.

This Pompey team must be judged on how it performs against Sunderland and forthcoming matches against Charlton and Lincoln. Not Northampton.

Come on, it made you a bit happy, didn’t it?

Of course. Usually we grab one or two goals, shut up shop and it's thank you very much.

On Tuesday night it was good to see us continuing to push for four or five. That was encouraging and positive.

As a Pompey fan, it’s also not often you can sit back on 50 minutes and think “This game is now done”.

I did find that enjoyable. Relaxing, having a conversation with my mate Dave Langmore while drinking a beer. It’s a rare experience while watching Pompey.

All was good in the world. My house is also covid-secure, I may add!

Who impressed you?

Ryan Williams was my man of the match, I thought his energy levels were brilliant throughout.

He caused Northampton a fair amount of trouble, while it was good to see him get the full 90 minutes rather than the usual 70.

Judging by the reaction to my first Gaffer article, he was very unlucky not to get into my side!

Andy Cannon also impressed me – and I also didn’t pick him. There’s an argue that the bloke didn’t know what he was talking about!

I’m definitely not wrong about Sean Ragggett, though!

Craig MacGillivray 7

Callum Johnson 6

Jack Whatmough 6

Sean Raggett 5

Lee Brown 6

Ryan Williams 8

Tom Naylor 7

Andy Cannon 8

Ronan Curtis 6

Marcus Harness 6

John Marquis 8

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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