The worrying silence Portsmouth need to end against Blackpool

That’s the view of Blues writer, Jordan Cross, in the latest edition of Pompey Talk which you can download HERE.

Kenny Jackett’s side aim to make amends for the Bristol Rovers shambles on Tuesday night, when Blackpool come to Fratton Park tomorrow.

Cross was at the Memorial Ground and raised concerns about the on-pitch quiet from many of Pompey’s players.

That was in contrast to the home side and is an area which urgently needs addressing.

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Cross said: ‘I think I speak for Pompey supporters as a whole in being furious with that debacle on Tuesday.

‘I don’t know if people picked up on it, but at the ground it was really, really apparent: all you could hear was Bristol Rovers players,

‘All of their players were loud and playing at a tempo. It wasn’t rocket science but they were very committed.

‘The only player you could hear from Pompey was Tom Naylor. His voice was constant, but there was no one else.

‘Where are the leaders at the moment for Pompey?

‘That was what was needed and it was very apparent it wasn’t there.

‘I couldn’t believe how quiet the Pompey players were. That quiet was concerning for me.

‘Tom was barking orders all game, even when the game went away from Pompey, but you need more leaders.’

As the season enters a crucial phase, Pompey now have to find a winning run to emerge from a promotion chase which remains fairly open.

And that means putting Tuesday’s night’s result to bed against a Blackpool side who came out on top at Bloomfield Road in December.

Cross added: ‘Bristol Rovers were winless in 10 games. Winless in 10 games!

‘They were ripe for the taking and to get a win which would have put Pompey right into the mix - one point off the automatic promotion places against a team woefully out of sorts.

‘They then got the goal and into a winning position against a team on shaky ground confidence wise.

‘For them to throw it away with the defensive shambles and attacking wastefulness we saw was unforgivable really.

‘For a team out of sorts it was the basic tenets of commitment and playing at a tempo which won the game - and that was so disappointing.

‘Can they put it right now? Yes, hopefully. We have to see a reaction.’

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