Kenny Jackett on why Portsmouth have nothing to fear from tough week ahead against Charlton and Lincoln

Charlton, positioned in sixth, visit Fratton Park on Saturday and surely represent rivals for a spot in the Championship.

While it’s a trip to leaders Lincoln on Tuesday night, with Michael Appleton’s men having won seven and drawn one of their opening nine fixtures.

Pompey themselves have suddenly struck golden form, with three victories and nine goals from their last three League One encounters.

For the fifth-placed Blues, the next two fixtures will provide an intriguing gauge of their own credentials.

Jackett told The News: ‘It’s a good test for us, isn’t it. Charlton at home and then Lincoln away, with both in form.

‘Lincoln are obviously top, while Charlton have won the last four games and, since coming out of the Championship, will quite rightly be wanting to get back up there.

‘There have been a number of sides which have come out of the Championship in recent years and been able to turn it around, whether to go back up or compete to go up. It does look like in the early signs of the season that Charlton are going to try to do that.

‘At the moment, we have competitors on or around our position in the league, which is good.

‘They are difficult matches, but we are coming off the back of some good wins and are playing well also.

‘We have every right to look forward to these games, even though they are big challenges.

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‘We’ve had a good run and, most importantly, the players will gain confidence from it because in the end they are the people that count in a football club.

‘I don’t think you should fear these games. For us, the players should be going forward with confidence.’

Pompey find themselves one point and one place ahead of Charlton, having played a game more.

And Jackett believes the league is now beginning to take shape.

He added: ‘It seems the table is starting to take shape, 10 games is just under a quarter of the season and you can see a pattern then.

‘Most of us are nine games in now and you can usually gauge in the first 10 matches where you are because you’ve played a wide range of games and your team’s had time to get into a rhythm.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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