Kenny Jackett: There are goals in this Portsmouth team - and they'll come

The Blues registered a second consecutive goalless draw in League One when they today travelled to Rochdale.

Despite an improved second-half showing, Jackett’s men failed to overcome the determined hosts, who may themselves have snatched victory at the death.

As it was, two excellent John Marquis opportunities spurned in the second period offered the greatest chance of a Blues victory.

There is much frustration over Pompey’s deeply disappointing start to the league season so far.

But Jackett is convinced his team have the talent – and firepower – to start scoring.

He told The News: ‘I do think there are goals in this team. We have a lot of good attacking players.

‘There is some frustration, in terms of how we built up a head of steam and couldn’t get the finishing touch to put us in front – and maybe it would have taken us forward to go and get more.

‘Ultimately, we couldn’t capitalise on the second half.

‘We do want to be finishing, but sometimes situations like that happen.

‘I have confidence in the players, on the front line that they can score.

‘If you look in there, we have John Marquis, Ronan Curtis, Marcus Harness, Michael Jacobs, Andy Cannon and Ryan Williams.

‘We have some good players in that group that have goal-scoring record and a lot of ability as well to finish their chances.

‘It’s a frustration with down 0-0 draws, but we have played quite well in the second half, which is positive, definitely, and have created chances.’

A poor opening 45 minutes was at least lifted after the break as the Blues offered more of a threat.

Jackett believes Thursday night’s 4-0 defeat at Brighton in the Carabao Cup impacted upon their start to the Spotland fixture.

Nonetheless, he remains encouraged with some aspects of Pompey’s play.

He added: ‘The first half was 50/50 and I felt we lacked a bit of confidence.

‘It’s not easy being live on TV on Thursday and beaten 4-0. Then to go out on Sunday and cannot play with a lot of confidence straight away.

‘I was saying to the players at half-time, you have to put that behind you, settle down on the ball, relax a bit and make the right pass, like you do in training all the time, and it will come today.

‘That’s two 0-0 draws, but my goalkeeper looked solid and Jack Whatmough and Sean Raggett have had two reasonable games as well, that’s not a bad partnership.

‘So, for us, there are good signs there.’