Michael Jacobs: Portsmouth players expected a Fleetwood battle - and fully deserved our victory

John Marquis’ 16th-minute goal settled this afternoon’s return to League One action in the Blues’ favour.

Yet it was a match in which they were required to defend for long periods, particularly during the second half.

Still, Kenny Jackett’s men once again demonstrated their promotion credentials, registering a fifth successive league clean sheet.

And Jacobs is convinced it was a Highbury Stadium outcome which was fully warranted.

He told The News: ‘Fleetwood’s a tough place to come. They are one of the sides in the division which have had a decent record over the last couple of years and we knew it was going to be a battle out there.

‘Soaking up a bit of pressure and hitting them on the counter attack was something we spoke about.

‘The conditions, state of the pitch and the weather made it difficult. As soon as we got that goal we knew we had the defensive capabilities to win the game.

‘Obviously in the second half we had some chances as well and it could have been more convincing, but I thought we deserved the win.

‘How the game panned out, they had quite a lot more possession and tried to build up the play, which meant we could sit back, soak up the pressure and hit them on the counter attack.

‘It wasn't a game plan, more a case of trying to defend well and see where we could go from that.

‘You look at the league games, we’ve had a bit of a break with matches called off for covid and the weather – and the clean sheets have flowed pretty well.

‘Long may that continue.’