Blues boss admits to a lack of creative spark
Jackett: They produced the one quality moment in game of few chances
KENNY JACKETT rued a lack of creative spark as uninspiring Pompey slumped to a Bloomfield Road defeat.
Keshi Anderson’s 63rd-minute goal settled last night’s League One encounter in Blackpool’s favour.
Yet it is the manner of defeat which will infuriate Blues followers, with Jackett’s team tur ning in one of their worst displays of the season so far.
For a side with 36 goals in their previous 16 fixtures, they were lacklustre and devoid of ideas, with many of their attacking players well below par.
Defeat now leaves t hem sixth in the table – when victory would have taken them into third spot.
Jackett told The News: ‘Barring the very good chance in injury time, we haven’t created enough – and we can create more t han that.
‘It was a game of very few chances. I didn’t think we created anything like we usually do and the one quality that has been produced was CJ Hamilton down the right and then the pull back for Anderson’s finish, which got them the three points.
‘We had moments and in the first half we were looking for that final ball, maybe the ball coming across.
‘The best chance in the second half was into injury time where John (Marquis) had got down the right-hand side.
‘It will be interesting to watch that again as to whether he could either have pulled that back or taken it in, but I wouldn’t choose anyone other than John to be in that situation at that particular time.
‘We didn’t create much, I do agree with that, and the one bit of quality created was their goal.
‘It was a game of very few chances at both ends.
‘After half-time they were pushing us in and it was tough for us to get out in that period, definitely.’
Usually quick to attend the post-match press conference, Jackett was delayed as he held a dressingroom discussion.
And he hopes the talk can enable the players to swiftly get back on track – starting with Saturday’s visit of third-placed Peterborough United. He added: ‘I spoke to them quite at length, where they feel, about coming to places like this on a Tuesday night and how
The defeat at Blackpool leaves Pompey four points outside League One’s top two we are going to get a result.
‘After that process has been discussed, we really talk about Saturday.
‘I want to be making sure we bounce back if we can and get back to our best perfor mances.’
– NEIL ALLEN Last night’s other League One results: Crewe Alexandra 4-2 Swindon Town, Lincoln City 2-1 Wigan Athletic, Northampton Town 1-0 Fleetwood Town, Oxford United 0-0 Ipswich Town, Plymouth Argyle 0-4 Rochdale, Sunderland 1-1 Burton Albion.