Kenny Jackett: Portsmouth can't reach the Championship solely on Fratton form

Kenny Jackett surveyed Pompey’s latest away loss and admitted: We can’t win promotion purely on Fratton Park form.
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On Saturday, the Blues suffered only a second defeat in their last 14 fixtures in all competitions.

However, both have arrived at the home of League One promotion rivals – Coventry and now Fleetwood.

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Jackett’s men slipped to a 1-0 loss at Highbury Stadium in a match they deserved little from, such was their lack of attacking threat.

Pompey slipped to an eighth away defeat in 16 League One matches on Saturday. Picture: Daniel Chesterton/phcimages.comPompey slipped to an eighth away defeat in 16 League One matches on Saturday. Picture: Daniel Chesterton/phcimages.com
Pompey slipped to an eighth away defeat in 16 League One matches on Saturday. Picture: Daniel Chesterton/phcimages.com

While the Blues are unbeaten in league football at Fratton Park this season, Saturday represented their eighth defeat in 16 away games.

Ongoing inferior results on their travels remain a concern, especially with tough trips looming to fellow high fliers Peterborough (March 7), Ipswich (March 21) and Rotherham (April 10).

Jackett said: ‘Fleetwood are promotion rivals and obviously not getting anything there was a big one.

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‘But, similarly, we’re seven points off the top of the league, with the leaders on 60, so it’s about what we do going forward.

‘We need a high percentage of points in the last 13 games – whoever is going to be successful needs to do that.

‘However, can you do that from just home form? No you can’t.

‘You have to carry on winning at home, but away you need more points as well. Ultimately, wins will be paramount where we go from here on in.

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‘Our last two away games at Coventry and Fleetwood have been very tight, we have lost them both 1-0 and not scored, which is a little frustrating, but it’s points that count.

‘You are always looking for improvement and that includes away results.

‘Saturday was huff and puff with a second half in which we had a lot of the game, ultimately we couldn’t turn that into shots.’

‘We obviously need to look forward very, very quickly, and, if we can, produce a sprint finish in terms of our last dozen or so games.’

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Pompey have now dropped out of the play-off spots, slipping to seventh position.

However, they have the opportunity to recapture their form with Tuesday night’s visit of 18th-placed MK Dons – and an improvement on Fleetwood.

Jackett added: ‘I wouldn’t blame Saturday’s conditions, it is what it is. It’s February and you are away at Fleetwood, you know what conditions are going to be like.

‘I don’t think that’s an excuse for us, we just didn’t get enough crosses in.

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‘In the first half I felt we were second to the ball and Fleetwood were a bit sharper, then they obviously got the goal.

‘At half-time I was still optimistic there was a win for us, but we couldn’t find the way through and into wide and crossing areas.’

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