Michael Jacobs issues Portsmouth warning with season drifting into obscurity after Charlton Athletic defeat

The Blues’ attacking talent believes the campaign is in danger of drifting away unless his team can find a run of winning form.

The 2-1 defeat to Charlton Athletic meant the winless start to 2022 continued in the league, with it now five League One fixtures without a win.

Jacobs’ second-half goal after his introduction gave his team hope, but the late charge was not enough.

The 30-year-old knows Danny Cowley’s side have to address their faults quickly to stop the side sleepwalking into League One obscurity.

He said: ‘We had a good start in the league, a sticky patch and then went 10 unbeaten.

‘The break didn’t help us and we haven’t really picked up any results in the new year.

‘The league can change quickly, and it’s up to us to change how it’s going.

‘I’ve been in this situations before and I’ve got promotions before.

‘I can see there’s a good group here and there’s quality.

‘But we have to improve, though, and find the answers because the gap between us and the top six is starting to grow.’

It was a case of groundhog day for Pompey as they started well at Fratton Park without seriously threatening former keeper Craig MacGillivray.

They then fell behind and lost their way, before rallying late on - without their charge being enough to produce a return.

Jacobs added: ‘It’s a familiar pattern.

‘We played well for 30 minutes but can’t get that goal when we’re on top.

‘We started really well, had the crowd behind us and had a good dominance in the game.

‘We didn’t take the chance and then the chance goes.

‘It was a soft goal from our point of view, too.

‘To go in 1-0 down then makes the game tough and it’s a regular theme since we came back from the Covid outbreak.

‘We’ve played well at times, but it’s just in patches.

‘When you play well and concede it does knock you out of our step.

‘We have to react better in those situations, especially at home.

‘These setbacks we have to react differently to, though, and find a solution.’