All style from Kyle to punish Pompey

KENNY Jackett slated his Portsmouth team for their defensive errors but Blackpool boss Gary Bowyer highlighted the importance of Kyle Vassell as the striker netted on his return from injury.

Vassell has been battling a hamstring complaint for large parts of the season and was ruled out of the previous two games but grabbed the first-half opener at Fratton Park.

Bowyer said: “You saw his value for us.

“We spoke about the importance Kyle had and that we have to manage him properly so that we can get him through.

“He looked rusty at times with a little bit of his hold up play in the firsthalf but his finish is a wonderful finish for us.

“He should have had one earlier as well after a great pass from Nathan Delfouneso but shot at the wrong side.”

Two mistakes at the back gifted Vassell and then Clark Robertson their goals, which saw Blackpool make it five without defeat and Jackett says top teams don’t make such errors.

“Defensively Blackpool made less mistakes than us,” he said.

“The first error is a big one where Christian [Burgess] has elected to take it on his chest.

“Because of that touch, I am assuming it played Kyle Vassell onside and he is a big player for them.

“And with the second goal it was a little bit of a hashed clearance but even so Clark Robertson is clear on the far post.

“We give too many goals away and we did that here. Good sides don’t make mistakes.”

Vassell could have opened his account in the sixth minute when he was played in by Nathan Delfouneso but he failed to direct his shot on target from inside the box.

Pompey then responded with a chance for target man Oliver Hawkins when he arrived at the back post, only to fire Jamal Lowe’s cross over the bar.

And the striker was gifted another opportunity to give Jackett’s side the lead after Dion Donohue’s diagonal ball was headed back across the goal but Hawkins hooked it wide.

That miss proved costly in the 41st minute as Vassell nicked the ball off the sleeping Christian Burgess before sliding his ninth goal of the season past Luke McGee.

Lowe had a chance to equalise on the hour mark when he had time to fire a shot away but he sent his effort wide of the post.

But the visitors secured the victory in the 63rd minute through Robertson, who was left unmarked in the Pompey area to head home.