Again, which wasn’t the first time recently, Pompey paid the price for failing to take the chances created as Northampton took theirs at Sixfields on Tuesday.
Two goals with barely half an hour played had Northampton in control with the Cobblers eventually going on to beat the Blues 3-1.
Luke McGee was beaten for the first time – the Pompey keeper could have reacted quicker to a through ball – when Chris Long scored. Northampton’s lead was doubled on 32 minutes when Matt Crooks scored.
A Jamal Lowe cross was headed against his own post by Ash Taylor – Stuart O’Keefe also went close – before Pompey were back in the game early in the 2nd half when Matt Kennedy scored his first goal since joining on loan from Cardiff.
The Blues could have been level, if not ahead, as plenty of chances came and went with Long rounding off the home sides’ win when scoring his second of the night and Northampton’s third 20 minutes from time.
Commenting after the game Kenny Jackett was quoted by the News as saying he’s looking for ‘naivety’ to be reduced and for the club to be ‘more streetwise’ and most definitely more made of the chances created.
He said: ‘We created a lot of chances and didn’t score. I was disappointed with some aspects of our play, some naivety I thought, we need to be more streetwise. We are playing against good sides, good squads of players but we have to keep that enthusiasm tonight.’
Adding: ‘We have been quite good in wide areas again and I think we can be better. Instead of consistently going through the middle we can bring people into play. We have to build on dominant starts. We were 2-0 down in the first 30 minutes that we controlled. Really, Matty Kennedy aside, we didn’t hit the target enough with our shots.’
How could we have 20-odd efforts on goal, managing to get nine of them on target, and score just the one goal? More to the point, how could Northampton score three from ONLY four attempts?
Much was spoken about Pompey needing to be clinical ahead of the game, well that didn’t happen did it… it WILL need to be the case going forward though but it doesn’t get any easier on Saturday.
PLAY UP POMPEY
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2017-18 Prediction League – September
Fleetwood (h) – Saturday 16th September 2017 – click here.
Scunthorpe (a) – Saturday 23rd September 2017 – click here.
Bristol Rovers (h) – Tuesday 26th September 2017 – click here.
Oldham (h) – Saturday 30th September 2017 – click here.
