Portsmouth defender sends out strong promotion message to Sunderland, Ipswich, Hull, Charlton and the rest

Sean Raggett is more than satisfied with Pompey's League One position and insisted: this team has everything needed to deliver automatic promotion.
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The Blues missed out on a chance to edge closer to the top two after being held to a 1-1 draw with Oxford United last night.

Raggett opened the scoring for Kenny Jackett's side on 19 minutes before Alex Gorrin equalised from the penalty spot in the second half.

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It meant Pompey stayed fourth in the table after another deadlock with their play-off conquerors of last season.

But the Blues remain only three points off second-placed Peterborough with more than two-thirds of the campaign to go.

With Oxford languishing in 19th, Raggett pinpointed how Pompey's have done well to avoid a play-off hangover.

And the centre-back is confident Jackett's men can achieve their goal of reaching the Championship this time around.

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Raggett said: ‘We are in a lot stronger of a position than we were now than this time a year ago.

Pompey celebrate Sean Raggett's goal against Oxford. Picture:  Mike Hewitt/Getty ImagesPompey celebrate Sean Raggett's goal against Oxford. Picture:  Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Pompey celebrate Sean Raggett's goal against Oxford. Picture: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

‘We are sitting nicely. Against Oxford, it was disappointing we couldn't get the win and might feel it was a bit of a missed opportunity.

‘But we are sitting nicely. I am confident that this team has everything needed to get in those top two places.

‘Oxford are a good side and similar to us last season. We'd been in the play-offs before I was here and lost out. You see that happen year after year when teams who've been in the play-offs have a hangover.

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‘We have sort of avoided that. You'll see Oxford push up the table because they won't be where they are now.

‘Everyone always wants to be sitting up at the top of the league. But you see it year after year – the teams that go up aren't always ones that are in the top places from the first few weeks of the season.

‘We are sitting nicely at the moment, will keep improving and push up the table.’

Raggett felt Pompey were unlucky not to win another close affair with Oxford and didn’t take their goalscoring chances.

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But the defender is certain the Blues will be back to winning ways swiftly.

He added: ‘We probably shaded it. We had the better chances but couldn't take them.

‘We have been taking them lately, which was disappointing, but I'm confident we can bounce back.’