‘Being top should build confidence and spirit’
Pompey boss: It doesn’t worry me if there’s pressure on us as leaders
KENNY JACKETT believes Pompey are ready to embrace the pressure of being leaders as they soared to the League One summit.
And the Blues’ boss feels his men will soak up the confidence from from going top of the pile in the third tier after usurping Hull City as leaders.
Jackett’s men produced a textbook away performance to emerge victorious from the KCOM Stadium with three points last night.
It was Pompey’s fifth clean sheet on the spin as two Hull own goals saw them pick up a well-deserved 2-0 success.
The Blues looked confident and assured once they got in front in only the sixth minute and rarely looked like letting their advantage slip.
The result means Pompey return to the top of League One after a 23-month absence as they near the halfway stage of the season.
Jackett has no qualms about taking on that mantle at this stage, and wants his men to continue to channel the vibrancy in the Pompey camp after their latest success.
He said: ‘I’d rather be top than bottom to be honest!
‘It’s as many points as you can and it doesn’t worry me if there’s pressure there.
‘We should gain in confidence and in team spirit.
‘If you win games of football, you do that.
‘For the players it’s important we do that and make gains in those areas.
‘After that we need to realise the standards we set and lift the bar even higher as we move forward.
‘It should encourage the players and I’m sure it will help them to gain in confidence and team spirit.
‘Once those two areas start to build, you can look forward and focus on the games ahead.’
The latest round of League
One fixtures today will likely see the top half of the table become even tighter with eight points currently covering the top 10.
Jackett sees it as a very open race to reach the Championship at this stage.
He said: ‘You always want to do as well as you can all the way through. ‘Obviously the time that matters to be top is at the end.
‘You’re looking at the league table and there’s maybe a top 12 there, with Oxford behind them, who will all have their eyes on the top six.
‘It does look very tight again, but I’d rather be setting the pace if we could.
‘We’re not taking anything for granted but this has to be a situation where the players are encouraged and gain in confidence.’
– JORDAN CROSS Today’s League One fixtures (3pm unless stated): Accrington v Blackpool, AFC Wimbledon v Crewe, Bristol Rovers P-P Oxford, Burton v Doncaster, Fleetwood v Wigan, Northampton v Lincoln, Peterborough P-P Ipswich, Plymouth v MK Dons, Rochdale v Gillingham (1), Shrewsbury P-P Sunderland, Swindon v Charlton.