Joe Gallen's goal pledge to the Fratton faithful after Portsmouth rediscover scoring touch

And Joe Gallen is confident the Blues will now match the scoring heights of the previous two campaigns.

Kenny Jackett’s side had scored once in their opening three League One fixtures to leave them in 21st and calls for the manager’s head.

Yet goals have generally not been hard to come in recent seasons, which have seen Pompey twice reach the play-offs.

In 2018-19, they were second only to Luton (90), following 83 goals from 46 league games.

Last term, which was curtailed early, saw Jackett’s men rack up 53 goals in 35 league fixtures.

That positioned them as the fourth-highest scores, behind Peterborough (68), Rotherham (61) and Oxford (61).

However, a thumping 4-2 victory at Burton last week was swiftly followed by Tuesday night’s 3-0 success over Southend in the EFL Trophy.

For Gallen, the positive signs are there following a frustrating start.

Pompey’s assistant boss told The News: ‘We do feel we’ve got goals.

‘In the last two seasons it’s not as if we haven’t scored enough goals. We have always scored a lot of goals. We know we’ve got goals.

‘It’s a slight surprise to me that we didn’t score enough in the first three games because we’ve got the players, we see them in training.

‘But the confidence they get from scoring and the team winning is really what we needed on Saturday.

‘I don’t mind saying that I expect the team to score enough goals for us to win us enough games. I don't think that’s going to be an issue.

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‘I think we’ve got some good attacking players and it was a big frustration when we scored just once in the opening three matches.

‘When you know you’ve got the players and see them doing it week in, week out training wise, then you expect them to be able to score a couple of goals every game.

‘I think we have now hit the goal trail. I expect that part of our game to significantly improve and be in parallel with the previous two seasons.’

Marcus Harness grabbed a hat-trick and Jack Whatmough registered the other in Saturday’s 4-2 victory at Burton.

On Saturday they entertain an MK Dons side who are presently bottom of League One with two points.

Gallen added: ‘Overall it was a very, very good performance at Burton.

‘Not only did we score four, but we looked like we were going to get quite a lot of goals.

‘Probably for the first time this season in the league we looked like we were going to score, create chances and take them.

‘It was four and could have been more. It was a big confidence boost for everyone.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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