Yes, the Checkatrade Trophy, EFL Trophy, call it what you will, isn’t a priority to Pompey, certainly not the fans, but a win at Charlton on Tuesday was most definitely needed.
Victory at the Valley, thanks to Curtis Main’s first half goal, not only ended a run of four successive defeats it also saw us find the back of the net, which hadn’t happened too often in the previous losses.
A fifth straight defeat, in all competitions, would have added pressure on Kenny Jackett and the importance of this wasn’t lost on his assistant Joe Gallen.
Quoted by the News post-match he said: ‘We needed to stop the run of losses we were on, whether it was the Checkatrade Trophy or not. The next game needed to be a win and it was after a thoroughly hard-working performance from everyone.’
Now this hard thought win needs to be taken forward to Bloomfield Road for the League One trip to Blackpool on Saturday as the Blues seek a first win since victory over MK Dons last month.
Gallen added: ‘The attitude was first class, but when you do go one up it does give you that something-to-hold-on-to mentality and I thought we saw that really. I’m really pleased for everyone but now it has to roll into Blackpool on Saturday and the league.’
How much pressure was/is Jackett really under? Well, in this day and age of football where fans, let alone owners, aren’t prepared to have much patience, I think we can say a win in any competition was needed but now – having secured a place in the last 32 of that competition – the league form needs to improve and become more consistent.
Jackett wasn’t overseeing this win, but he was watching on, so those handed a chance, with no fewer than eight changes made, will hope they’ve made enough of an impression on the boss to get a chance at Blackpool, which some should have.
Roll on Saturday; let’s hope it’ll be a positive one in front of another large, as always, travelling support.
PLAY UP POMPEY
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2017-18 Prediction League – November
Blackpool (a) – Saturday 11th November 2017- click here.
