Kenny Jackett: Portsmouth have to combat impact of absent fans on their game

The Blues boss believes the absence of fans from matches is affecting the tempo of their fixtures.

And Jackett reckons that means they will need to change their approach, to avoid their foot coming off the game at key points in an encounter.

The government announced this week fans will not be returning to stadiums on October 1, with the suggestion it could be as long as six months before they return through the turnstiles.

Jackett has listened to expert analysis on how that has impacted the ebb and flow of fixtures which have pinpointed ‘dead spots’ in games.

The Pompey boss believes there’s certainty a pattern which has emerged in recent months on that note.

He said: ‘It’s interesting listening to one or two pundits talking about how they see football behind closed doors, and there’s dead spots within the game.

‘It’s interesting listening to other people when they are saying that.

‘It’s a good way of putting it really, whereas the crowd don’t allow the dead spots.

‘You feel the build-up of the crowd, the players have to play better and the manager has to make a sub. Boom, boom boom - the whole thing has to get going again.

‘There’s dead spots behind closed doors at every level.

‘It just shows you how in this country what a big part the emotion of the crowd plays.’

After identifying the pattern, the Pompey boss feels the challenge now is for his players to find a way to combat intensity dropping at crucial moments.

A lack of tempo to the Blues’ play was certainly evident throughout the first half of last weekend’s 0-0 draw with Rochdale.

Now they quickly need to find a way to resolve their issues, with wins need to arrest a winless league start to date.

Jackett added ‘We just have to work it out and be better than the opposition. That’s it.

‘It’s not perfect, but it’s not perfect for them.

‘I always feel that has to be the case anyway that you have to adapt and learn.

‘There are some dead spots in games, it’s true, and it shows you how important the fans are in this country.

‘There’s a need to quicken it up. So for us, it’s adaptation, learning as you go along and listening to advice.’

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