'Wolves won League One with our keeper player of the year' - Portsmouth boss Kenny Jackett on importance of team balance

Pompey’s boss stopped short of praising 386 minutes without a goal in all competitions.

After all, on Tuesday night his side also drew a blank, prompting the admission that excelling at one end of the field should never come at the expense of the other.

Not that Jackett should worry, the Blues remain League One’s leading scorers with 30 goals in 18 games.

Crucially, however, it remains essential such goal-scoring power is underpinned by a resolute defence.

League One winners Coventry last term possessed the best defensive record, as did Barnsley, who earned promotion in second place in 2018-19.

Jackett’s own Wolves side claimed the 2013-14 divisional title with a record 103 points – and conceding 12 fewer goals than anyone else.

Maintaining that balance is crucial – promotion could depend on it.

Jackett said: ‘We are pleased where we are defensively, but we can’t be everything because it has to be balanced with being able to go forward.

‘Similarly, there were some good performances against Fleetwood defensively as well and we needed it.

‘In the end it was one point, whichever way you work at it. But you look at it as an overall and generally if you want to be right up there then defensively you have to be good.

‘Coventry last year – when the league was finished – had conceded the least amount in the League One.

‘At Wolves, we took the title with record points, but our goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme, was player of the year. it shows you how it goes.’

Jackett’s defensive preference consists of Callum Johnson, Jack Whatmough, Sean Raggett and Lee Brown, with Craig MacGillivray in goal.

Although a second hamstring problem of the season for Brown has allowed Cam Pring another run in the side, starting against Fleetwood on Tuesday night.

A moment of disruption to a settle unit - yet still Pompey claimed a third straight League One clean sheet.

And that’s four successive shut-outs in total once the 3-0 Papa John’s Trophy win over Cheltenham is included, which featured Pring at left wing-back.

Jackett added: ‘Pring has 13 appearances and he has come on, Lee Brown is a good player as well, he brings a lot of experience and talking to the team.

‘It has been quite a settled unit, although with the left-back changing.’

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