Kenny Jackett finds Portsmouth positives against Sunderland, but concedes crucial shortcomings
Kenny Jackett saw Pompey positives – but admitted the Blues failed in both boxes.
Charlie Wyke and Jordan Jones were the scorers as Lee Johnson’s men breezed past their Fratton Park hosts with ease.
Pompey couldn’t muster up a shot on target, with John Marquis, in particular, missing two gilt-edged chances in the first half.
A third straight defeat leaves the Blues sixth in League One as results elsewhere fell in their favour.
And Jackett insists there were encouraging signings amid another poor result.
He told The News: ‘I think a lot of our process was good and we competed well.
‘The key moments, the moments in the box, we didn’t get right.
‘There's a block by O’Nien and there’s a header from Wyke. We’ve worked hard to stop that and given him a free one.
‘He’s got the lead in a period when we had got wide and put some very good balls into the box, particularly from Daniels, with Bolton and Williams down the other side as well.
‘We didn’t make those crosses and balls into the box tell. We didn’t make something by way of a knock down for a mate or winning the 50/50 duels to be able to get away from your opponent and get the strikes on.
‘Generally, we moved the ball along the back line pretty well and got out the other side, but on doing that in the second half we got caught on the ball and Jones, from quite an acute angle, lifted the ball over the keeper.
‘Overall we had lot of the ball, a lot of work up and around their box, but, in terms of our set-pieces, we are usually the ones to score, but have conceded again.
‘A lot of our process between the boxes, though, was pretty good. But the key moments, the moments in either box which are the moments which count, we didn’t get right.
‘If you don’t do that generally, you won’t win.’
Now 13 points off the top of League One, there is no chance of automatic promotion for Pompey.
They have taken four points from the last 21 available, while last night felt a little hard done by after substitute Michael Jacobs failed to be awarded a penalty.
Jackett added: ‘For a little spell after the second goal we lost our confidence, but then did regain it to some degree.
‘Similarly, with 15 minutes to go, we still didn’t find the strikes or work their keeper enough.
‘There were some moments in terms of the referee, which the players are disappointed with, but similarly we have to take our own responsibility.’
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