This is how Portsmouth boss will keep rest of League One guessing

The Pompey boss shuffled his pack again at Lincoln on Tuesday night as he returned to a 4-2-3-1 formation.

It was a move which was rewarded with a 3-1 success, as the Blues produced another of their best performances of the season at Sincil Bank.

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That follows on from the recent switch to a 4-4-2 which contributed to the team’s upturn in fortunes last month.

Wing-backs and a 4-3-3 system have also been used in recent weeks, and assistant, Joe Gallen, believes that ability to switch comfortably between approaches is a big asset for his team.

He said: ‘I think we’ve got to be flexible and we are being flexible.

‘We’ve got the players to do it. We have the ability now to be able to surprise the opposition going into games.

‘That’s what I think the manager has been doing with that.

‘He’s done well with the flexibility and changing it at the right time.

‘The players are there to do that, so hopefully we can keep everyone guessing.’

Gallen explained the thinking behind the return to a formation he’s used in much of his time as Pompey boss at Lincoln.

And he feels Jackett deserves praise for being brave enough to invoke the change when the flak would’ve flown if it didn’t work.

He added: ‘Kenny deserves the credit for picking the team and formation.

‘We thought Marcus Harness could get on the right-hand side where he’s been for most of his Pompey career.

‘And he wanted to put Williams into midfield to not only nullify (Jorge) Grant a little bit, but he’s got a lot of pace, receives the ball well in the middle of the pitch and runs with it well.

‘The manager deserves credit, because if it goes well you’re opening yourself up to criticism - and there can be a teeny, weeny bit of criticism around here sometimes!’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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