Portsmouth success not dependant on attacking trio

That's the verdict of Pompey writer Will Rooney going into Saturday's game at AFC Wimbledon.

The above trio have contributed more than half of the Blues' 27 goals this season.

Curtis and Lowe sit top of the scoring charts with six apiece, with Pitman two behind on four.

Kenny Jackett will be without the services of Curtis for the trip to Kingsmeadow because of his international commitments with the Republic of Ireland.

The Irishman also has six assists to his name this term, making his absence a blow for the game against Neal Ardley's side.

But speaking in the latest edition of Pompey Talk, Rooney believes Pompey pose enough threat from elsewhere in the team '“ and from the bench '“  to ensure they have the goals to sustain a promotion push.

He said: '˜Attackers are there to score the goals at the end of the day but the (other) lads have to contribute '“ it's not just up to defenders to defend.

'˜Pitman has four this season, Lowe and Curtis have six, while Gareth Evans has got three.

'˜But Ben Close has been getting himself into some positions. He should've scored at Coventry and he had one that went just over the bar at Crawley.

'˜Dion Donohue is also back in the frame now.

'˜He's scored (against Crawley on Tuesday night) and will be expected to score a few more playing further up the pitch rather than left-back.

'˜Meanwhile, you've got the like of Joe Mason who got goals in the Championship.

'˜You'd be expecting him to be able to score a few more in League One.

'˜You've also got the likes of Louis Dennis who can't stop scoring for the reserves and didn't have a bad game at Crawley.

'˜Maybe there can be an over reliance on (certain) attackers, but for me your attackers are there to score goals.'

'˜And when you've got players like Curtis and Lowe and others, you'd be expecting them to score the lion's share.