FIND THAT SPARK
Pompey need to swiftly regain their attacking thrust as goals dry up –
JOE GALLEN admitted Pompey have to quickly find the right attacking formula to save their season.
And rebuilding low confidence in forward areas will be key to getting the Blues firing once more, after their latest disappointment against Blackpool.
But the Blues’ assistant manager is adamant there’s still the time and possibility to get their League One campaign motoring after the toothless showing at home to Blackpool.
Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Neil Critchley’s side leaves Pompey seven points off the top two at the end of a nightmare week after the woeful 3-1 loss at Bristol Rovers last Tuesday night.
Gallen pointed out there’s time to turn things around with 18 games to go, but there has to be a realism about what is now required.
He said: ‘There’s a lot of games.
‘Normally at this stage of the season going into March it’s the run-in.
‘It’s not quite the run-in yet, though.
‘Having said that, we’re making no excuses. We wanted six points this week and we haven’t done that.
‘We’re disappointed and the emotion of it is down to not picking up points.
‘We can’t get too high, we can’t get too low.
‘There’s another game coming and we do have the players, we do have the spirit and there’s plenty of games to go.
‘But, that said, we do need to find the formula quickly.
‘It could still be us, but we’ve got a bit to do.
‘We have to be positive, but we have to be realistic as well.
‘In order to do that we need to maintain the defensive stability we had but then come up with more chances, more clear-cut chances and more shots on target.
‘There needs to be more of us getting on the end of crosses and more attempts from set-pieces.
‘There is a bit of work to do here.’
It’s clear a lack of attacking invention is contributing to Pompey’s return of seven points from the past seven games.
The four attacking players who started against Blackpool have contributed just three goals across that period.
Top scorer John Marquis has returned a single goal in that time – and Gallen knows that has to be remedied.
He said: ‘There’s some highs, some lows, you’re on form and off form.
‘At the moment our forwards need to find some belief and confidence.
‘I think our job is to work with them on the training ground. That’s what we’ll do.
‘We’ve got enough good, quality attackers and enough players who can create chances and take chances.
‘Our job is to help them and boost their confidence.
‘We have to work now and find a formula. We have to find a way on the training ground to get their confidence going. We have to help them.’
■ BRETT PITMAN admits he didn’t expect to find himself in a relegation dogfight at Swindon after leaving Pompey.
After 42 goals in 99 games during his three seasons at Fratton Park, Pitman penned a one-year deal at the County Ground in the summer following his Blues release.
The Robins currently sit two points above the League One drop zone.
He told the Swindon Advertiser: ‘I am surprised with where we’ve ended up. When I signed at the start of the season, I thought we’d have a really successful season.’
‘We wanted six points this week and we haven’t done that.’
Joe Gallen