Portsmouth boss on the flak Paul Lambert's faced and Ipswich's start to the season

But the Pompey boss believes the Tractor Boys have made a good start to the League One season despite his counterpart coming in for flak.

Lambert has his detractors at Portman Road, with sections of fans calling for him to be sacked.

After being relegated from the Championship, Ipswich finished 11th in League One last season.

However, they handed the Scot a five-year contract only months before the campaign was curtailed amid the coronavirus crisis.

Despite fan group Blue Action placing banners for Lambert to be axed around the club’s training ground and stadium, owner Marcus Evans has publicly backed the manager.

Ipswich currently sit third in the table on 29 points, with Pompey one place and one point behind in fourth.

And Jackett believes the Suffolk outfit will be challenging for promotion this term.

He said: ‘It's not something I have necessarily studied and would have to look at and come back to you.

‘Paul is somebody I know very well and he has been in management for a long time.

‘In terms of the overall situation, I've looked at their games and their team selection but not the bigger picture quite so much.

‘I always feel the top eight of League One is very good competition. They are either big clubs or clubs that are being funded very highly.

‘To compete in and around that, you need to be in a good team and a good side. Both are in that bracket at the moment and trying to get into the Championship.

‘Both sides are well-positioned in the league and will be looking to push on. We know we're going to be at our best to get the result we want.’

Pompey travel to Ipswich for the second time in as many months.

The Blues delivered a 3-2 extra-time victory in an entertaining FA Cup first-round tie.

Jackett’s expecting a similar affair tomorrow afternoon.

He added: ‘It was a really good game in the Cup and a very high standard for League One.

‘I expect this one to be the same. I don't think it will be any different.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

The News has launched a new subscription offer which gives you unlimited access to all of our Pompey coverage, starting at less than £1 a week.

You can subscribe here to get the latest news and transfer updates from Fratton Park - and to support our local team of expert Pompey writers.