Goal-shy centre-forwards developing into a sizeable Portsmouth League One headache

It was the Blues’ first goal in eight League One and play-off fixtures delivered by a striker. In the opposition’s net, anyway.

For all aspirations of staging another promotion push or play-off challenge, doubts are beginning to creep in over Pompey’s cutting edge.

Certainly impressive goal returns from Harrison and John Marquis in cup competitions mask their scoring contributions a little.

For, analysing their league output, the pair have netted 14 times between them – in 70 matches.

Before Harrison’s Wigan cameo off the bench to grab an 89th-minute consolation in a dismal Fratton Park defeat, the last time a striker netted in the league was February 25.

That was a 3-1 victory over MK Dons, with Marquis on the scoresheet along with Andy Cannon and Marcus Harness – 215 days earlier.

Granted, the arrival of coronavirus curtailed the campaign, reducing 2019-20 fixtures to just two, by way of the play-off semi-finals.

However, seven league matches without a Pompey striker registering is a worry.

Then Harrison popped up to lash in a left-footed finish against the Latics, thereby putting himself in the frame for a start at Burton.

Ronan Curtis (12) scored more league and play-off goals than Marquis (8) and Harrison (5) last term. In fact, Harness and Gareth Evans both netted as many as Harrison.

The only other striker used centrally last season in Jackett’s favoured 4-2-3-1 system was Oli Hawkins.

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Yet he failed to find the net in his four outings as a centre-forward, of which just one was a start.

Nonetheless, the lack of goals arriving from the striking position should be a concern for Jackett as he attempts to rejuvenate a side already flagging.

Pompey were the fourth-highest scorers in League One last season with 53 from 35 games, a tally beaten only by Peterborough (68), Rotherham (61) and Oxford United (61).

Despite ongoing criticism over Jackett’s playing style, goals have never been hard to come by during his three full seasons at the helm.

After all, in 2017-18, Brett Pitman returned 24 in 38 league games – and 25 in all competitions.

The following season, he registered 11 in 32 league games, of which half of those outings were from the bench and many operating as a number 10.

Compare that to the League One and play-off hauls of Marquis (8) and Harrison (5) in 2019-20.

Elsewhere, Curtis totals 27 Pompey goals as he approaches a potential 100th appearance for the club at Burton on Saturday.

There are also goals in Harness, while Michael Jacobs had an encouraging return at Wigan.

Yet the Blues require more ammunition from the central striking area.

And with Maquis and Harrison as the only conventional forwards on the club’s books, they’ll need to step up to ensure another top-six finish.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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