JACKETT SALUTES CLINICAL CURTIS
KENNY JACKETT applauded match-winner Ronan Curtis after Portsmouth boosted their promotion hopes with a win over ten-man Ipswich at Fratton Park.
Curtis’ strike five minutes into the second half was enough to earn Pompey all three points.
The win also takes Jackett’s side to within two points of the play-offs
Jackett said: “What Ronan Curtis is doing is good, very good. We want to get a really good goals total from Ronan.
“He’s got nine goals this season and it was a fantastic strike today and he’s nearly taken the keeper in to the net with it.
“We played very well. I thought it was an excellent game between two good football teams.
“Their best spell was after we scored I thought and we came through it and weathered the storm well.
“They had a sizeable contingent from Ipswich, but we kept them quiet which does show the level of performance.
“Ipswich are a good size with good players. There will be 10 or 12 clubs with a chance and they are one of the better sides and a massive club.
“The recent history shows clubs coming down into this league are strong and they will challenge.
“We showed a lot of heart and a lot of commitment and played with a lot of passion.”
Pompey had the better of the first half, but had to wait until the 50th minute to get the goal they deserved.
Curtis received the ball on the halfway line and drove at the Ipswich before cutting inside onto his right foot and unleashing an unstoppable shot that went in off the bar.
While the hosts improved after the break to take control of proceedings, second-place Ipswich failed to get going until after falling behind.
And their hopes of a comeback were dashed when Luke Chambers was sent off after 87 minutes after picking up a second yellow card for hauling down Ellis Harrison.
Ipswich boss Paul Lambert said: “This football club generates pressure without what game you have to win or what game you can afford to draw or whatever.
“Because of the size of the name, that’s big club syndrome. If you play for this club or manage it you need to handle the expectancy level.
“You should actually thrive on it and thrive in front of the support and express yourself, go and do the things that got yourself here in the first place.
“Hopefully we can still go up automatically, hopefully we can win it.
“We’re still a really good side but you don’t win nothing that isn’t earned. We have to bounce back as quickly and as strongly as we can.
“You are always going to have a blip somewhere, it’s how you come through that and that’s always the thing of how can we do that.”