Memories of a Portsmouth tormentor now ready to tackle pressure of being their main creator head on

But the 2,000-plus Pompey fans at the DW Stadium on August 26, 2017 won’t forget what happened that early-season summer afternoon in a hurry.

The occasion was to mark a quick-fire reunion with Paul Cook, less than three months after departing from Fratton Park as the architect of that dramatic League Two title win.

Scolded supporters were in no mood to reflect happily on that success with the inimitable Scouser, the wounds too fresh with a hasty departure ensuing after a promise of loyalty which will be his royal-blue epitaph.

The inflatable snakes and flak which rolled down from the away stand bore testament to those emotions, a response which led to Cook blanking the away fans in the final whistle and still leaves him sore to this day.

But it’s what unfolded on the pitch which lingers three years on as his side served up a merciless one-sided beating in his image, the match almost comically ending in a 1-1 draw.

Three times the woodwork came to Pompey’s rescue amid 18 shots on goal, as Luke McGee produced a goalkeeping display unsurpassed since the days of David James.

And at the heart of the torment was the man tasked with providing the missing creativity desperately needed to reach the Championship.

A specialist right-back Gareth Evans ain’t and he won’t want to be reminded of his encounter with Jacobs that afternoon, as he was eventually given his marching orders as he vainly attempted to stifle his new team-mate’s incisive running.

Jacobs formed part of an attacking quartet with Gavin Massey, Nick Powell and Ivan Toney which reeked of championship class.

That title duly ensued and added another League One gong to the 28-year-old’s CV.

And if history remains the best indicator of future behaviour, then the portents are certainly promising for more of the same on that front.

Jacobs arrives at Fratton Park looking to add a FOURTH League One title to an already impressive resume.

The expectancy is certainly there for him to take a central role and become a key orchestrator in doing so.

Yet, at this formative stage, you get the feeling the weight of expectancy rests easy on the shoulders of this engaging man from Northants.

His maiden interview after his unveiling on a two-year deal with a club option to extend for 12 months, certainly points to a character with the strength of his convictions; one who knows what he’s here to produce.

‘Performances are one thing but you’re also judged on goals and assists,’ Jacobs told The News on Monday evening after signing.

‘If that means chipping in with 10 of each you’ve had a good season and we’ll have a good chance of getting promoted.

‘It’s something I pride myself on, especially in this division, I’ll be looking to chip in with double figures.

‘Once I’ve bonded with the lads I don’t see any reason why I can’t do that.’

Sometimes when talking of such ambitions and targets with the press players can need a little prompting to open up on such ambitions, while others will outright refuse to discuss them.

But not the Pompey new boy.

In fact, it was Jacobs who broached the numbers he should be aspiring to achieve in the coming months; he willingly embraced the pressure it brings.

Again, his past numbers point to the heights he’s looking to reach as perfectly realistic.

Jacobs returned 10 goals in Wigan’s 2015-16 title success and added two more to that number when they repeated the trick two years later. He grabbed nine in Wolves’ record-breaking League One effort in 2013-14 under Kenny Jackett, despite not arriving at Molineux until November.

In terms of his assists, he managed to return eight in both of the Latics’ championship seasons according to Wyscout, with a lack of reliable data available for when Wolves returned a record-breaking 103 League One points six years ago.

All the signs are Jacobs will look to replicate those kind of stats from a central role, with a platform of Pompey’s talisman his to step on to.

Most of his good work in recent seasons has come from a berth on the left, where he’s been effective at cutting in and affecting games on his favoured right foot.

The former Derby man views himself as comfortable in any of the three attacking positions in Jackett’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation, however.

There has to be the hope, too, operating centrally will see him take up more goalscoring positions when he finds his feet and fitness this season.

In a summer where consternation among supporters has been rife, it’s heartening to see how Jacobs’ arrival has received an overwhelmingly positive reception.

The concern over missing out on a number 10 of Sammie Szmodics quality has dissipated, wiped out amid the arrival of man with the kind of form and pedigree to enthuse.The stage is there now for Pompey’s new creator to fill the number 10 vacuum; those who watched him torment their side three years ago will have a conviction about his ability to do so.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

Thank you for reading this story. The News has launched a new subscription offer which gives you unlimited access to all of our Pompey coverage.

You can subscribe here to get the latest updates from Fratton Park, transfer news and expert analysis from our team of Pompey writers. Every subscription helps us continue providing trusted, local journalism on your behalf for our city.