Portsmouth boss Kenny Jackett reacts to Charlton's Darren Pratley avoiding punishment after dangerous lunge on Callum Johnson

The Charlton midfielder bizarrely went unpunished after flying in dangerously on the Blues’ defender in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Fratton Park.

Referee Carl Boyeson saw fit only to have a word with the veteran, with some observers noting they’ve seen dismissals for similar challenges.

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Pompey boss Kenny Jackett agreed tackles of that nature do result in such an outcome, but didn’t believe Pratley deliberately went out to inflict pain on the defender.

He said: ‘Some of them you get and some of them you don’t

‘I know Darren and he’s not particularly a malicious player, whether it was mistimed I don’t know.

‘It’s up to other people whether they want to make those judgments.’

Defeat to Charlton put paid to Pompey’s fine run of results which has seen them charge up the table after a shaky start to the season.

After one goal in the first three league games, the Blues had smashed in 15 efforts in the ensuing six fixtures before the weekend.

That saw them on a run of six wins from seven in all competitions and three league successes on the spin.

After a glaring early miss from Ronan Curtis, Pompey failed to make their pressure count against an organised Charlton rearguard action.

Jackett felt the quality of his side’s deliveries in the final third contributed to their loss.

He added: ‘It was wave after wave of blue coming forward, but we couldn’t find a way through.

‘It was close and there were two chances in the first half - the Ronan chance and Williams goal. They got one and we didn’t.

‘We were only 1-0 down and in control in the second half.

‘For all of that, though, we couldn’t find the shots to test the keeper and also our crosses were too close to the keeper.

‘The quality of our crossing, set-pieces and corners wasn’t good enough.

‘Although it was wave after wave we couldn’t find a way through.’

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