Skipper: What Portsmouth need to do to solve attacking struggles at Doncaster

Tom Naylor has detailed how Pompey have to solve their attacking impotence.
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And the Blues captain admitted his team have to quickly find the answers to their struggles going forward to avoid their promotion bid being derailed.

Kenny Jackett’s side found it increasingly difficult to carve out chances in Saturday’s frustrating 1-1 draw against Gillingham.

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Defender Sean Raggett got their first-half goal, with just four efforts coming from attacking players across the past nine games.

They rarely looked like adding to that number in the second half on Saturday and Naylor puts that down to a lack of care in the final third.

He said: ‘I don’t think it’s nerves, but I do think that sometimes we rush our end product.

‘We get in good areas but we can’t seem to find that final pass, cross or strike.

Pompey created little in the second half on SaturdayPompey created little in the second half on Saturday
Pompey created little in the second half on Saturday

‘It’s something we need to work on.

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‘We need to believe that when we do get into those areas are going to score goals.’

Pompey were posed a tough physical challenge by Steve Evans’ side, who shelled balls into the box from every set-piece opportunity.

It was tough work for centre-halves Rasmus Nicolaisen and Sean Raggett, but Naylor felt they stood up well to the test.

He added: ‘We knew what their game plan was because they’ve done it all season.

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‘I thought we dealt with well, but 90 minutes of that and they are going to get through.

‘It’s tough against Oliver, he’s one of the best at what he does and then they brought on Akinde.

‘I thought our centre-halves stood up to it quite well.’

Despite failing to pick up a win, Pompey actually closed the gap on the automatic promotion slots to five points as teams at the top again faltered.

Naylor acknowledged that’s of little consequence, though, if his team don’t look hitting form.

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He said: ‘Teams are dropping points - and that’s the most frustrating thing about it.

‘Three points against Gillingham would’ve been massive.

‘Three points is always big but it’s massive at this time of season.

‘We want to get into the automatics and if we are to do it we need to start picking some points up.

‘Back-to-back wins are a big thing in this league - especially at this stage of the season.

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‘I think it will be a good game. Donny are around us, and we need to beat teams around us.’

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