Fratton Park is not a happy place at the moment, and a dour 0-0 home draw with Gillingham on Saturday did nothing to lift the gloom.
Portsmouth came into the clash having won their previous two league games, and they enjoyed much of the possession but could not break down a resilient Gillingham side who left Fratton Park happy with getting the point they set up for. The result left Pompey in a disappointing sixteenth in the table, piling more pressure on under-fire boss Kenny Jackett.
Jackett felt that his team needed to be more creative in the final third to earn a third successive league victory when he spoke to the club’s official website after the match. He said ‘It was a frustrating afternoon after we played reasonably well in the first half and produced some good shots.’
‘Gareth Evans and Ben Close both tested the keeper, while we had plenty of corners and free-kicks in dangerous areas.’
‘The best of those led to Sean Raggett hitting the post and we felt we could really build on that at half-time, going on to win the game.’
‘But we didn’t do enough in the second period, and an effort from Ellis Harrison and Lee Brown’s chance at the end were our best moments.’
‘Ryan Williams came on and added some energy, while Andy Cannon provided a different skill set, but ultimately it didn’t result in the storming performance we wanted.’
‘We did fall away slightly and couldn’t create enough, despite being in control and looking solid at the back.’
‘We’ve drawn 0-0 at home and want to be winning. To be the team we want to be, we have to use that defensive display as a base for more.’
Jackett’s view did not cut any ice with Pompey fans when they took to social media to react to the comments. Many Pompey fans have become increasingly frustrated at their team’s inability to break sides down, especially at home. They feel the blame for the side’s lack of creativity lies with Jackett who picks the team and sets the tactics, and they didn’t hold back on Twitter when they replied to the comments on the club’s official feed.
Here is a selection of their responses.
That the title of his upcoming autobiography?
— Mark Somerset (@mark11s) October 12, 2019
What does he expect when the two midfielders are holding hands with the centre backs all game!! The amount of time we go forward and Close and Naylor are still standing in our own half is ridiculous
— Carl Allen (@capfc) October 12, 2019
Sack him. He is just not good enough this season. Too defensive minded. Especially when playing a Fratton Park, we must create loads of opportunities and not only a couple. Play offensively, like 4-4-2 diamond or even 3-4-3 and play defense at 3/4 closing up at opponents!
— T@TS (@atatsidis) October 12, 2019
So basically the baffoon that picks the players and sets the tactics wonders why his methods produce awful football. Taxi for Kenny… #jackettout #Nojackettrequired
— Nick Williams (@ThatCoachNick) October 12, 2019
Stop playing two defensive midfielders aswell as a back four then you numpty.
— Joe Robbins (@joerobbs) October 12, 2019
Jackett not creative enough? Been saying it for months… #JackettOut pic.twitter.com/BI4eSgN0qN
— Jake Meyers (@jakemeyers2015) October 12, 2019
It’s the same every week 😂
— Rhys (@RhysFinnie_) October 12, 2019
https://twitter.com/Jake_PFC/status/1183077674975158277?s=20
