Yes, we’ve had a record of winning one then losing the next but finally Pompey were able to secured back-to-back League One wins when beating MK Dons on Saturday.
Can a third in a row be secured at Doncaster this evening? Confidence is certainly higher now but Kenny Jackett wants us to ensure this doesn’t turn into complacency.
He told portsmouthfc.co.uk: ‘We’ve had some reasonable results lately, with a couple of wins on the bounce and we want that to continue. We’ll take the confidence, without being complacent because you have to earn everything you get and work hard.’
Saturday’s win allowed Pompey to move up to eighth with a play off place now just a point away. With continued hard work and positive results – ideally continuing at the Keepmoat Stadium – the boss hopes the Blues can ‘keep pace’ with those above us.
‘This is a good division and if we can’t be at the top, we want to stay in touch with it. That has to be our aim. We’re still in there and we’re showing promise, but there’s work to do if we want to keep pace with other sides.’
Doncaster, much the same at Plymouth, who joined us in securing automatic promotion last season, haven’t found the going to easy in League One but did beat us home and away during our title winning campaign.
Specifically on this challenge ahead Jackett knows this isn’t a game where Pompey can simply turn up for an win but sees it as an opportunity to maintain recent form, indeed improve upon it.
Jackett added: ‘Both were successful and won promotion, so we’re looking forward to the game, although there have been changes to both squads. It’s always a difficult place to go and Darren Ferguson has an outstanding record as their manager. But we’ll look to maintain our standards if possible and even raise the bar to become more efficient and better as a team.’
In terms of options, Jackett is anticipating having Conor Chaplin back again and able ‘to be a substitute’ but ‘a groin injury on Sunday morning’ means Drew Talbot isn’t going to be part of the travelling squad.
PLAY UP POMPEY
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2017-18 Prediction League – October
Doncaster (a) – Tuesday 17th October 2017 – click here.
Blackburn (a) – Saturday 21st October 2017 – click here.
Bradford (h) – Saturday 28th October 2017 – click here.
