Jackett happy to avoid Wembley hangover

Posted Sunday, April 07, 2019 by PA

Kenny Jackett praised his Portsmouth players for grinding out a 3-2 win at Wycombe and not letting the jubilation of last week’s win at Wembley get to them.

Portsmouth were back in League One action after their Checkatrade Trophy penalty shoot-out victory over Sunderland at the national stadium last weekend.

And despite racing into a 2-0 lead they survived a late scare as Wycombe threatened to snatch a point.

Jamal Lowe put the promotion chasers ahead, with Brett Pitman scoring either side of Marcus Bean’s goal before Scott Kashet’s late volley for Wycombe.

Jackett said: “It was very hard-fought and it was always going to be, a very different type of game from our last one at Wembley.

“If you want to be a successful side there are different types of tests that you come through.

“We found a way to win, at times we showed a lot of class and at the end we showed a lot of guts.

“The game after Wembley, we had to make sure it wasn’t after the Lord Mayor’s show. It was always going to be a difficult game and a tough game and we came through it well.”

Portsmouth dominated the opening stages and Lowe made the breakthrough after 17 minutes. Lee Brown’s left-wing free-kick was cleared to the winger who lashed home through a crowd of bodies.

Portsmouth struck again after half-time when Pitman seized upon Anthony Stewart’s mistake.

The relegation-threatened hosts hit back through Bean, who stabbed home after pinball in the box, only for Pitman to score shortly after with a brilliant free-kick.

Substitute Kashket gave Wycombe hope with a stunning volley but the visitors withstood a late barrage for a fourth straight league win.

And Jackett was pleased with the contribution of Pitman, who scored his 10th and 11th goals of the season.

He added: “Brett has scored some key goals, the first one he took very well and the free-kick didn’t give the keeper any chance, it was an excellent strike. It proved to be the winner and is a credit to him.”

The defeat left the Chairboys in 19th, just one point above the drop zone, but manager Gareth Ainsworth was picking out the positives from the performance.

He said: “There are huge positives. If you are showing fight with six games to go like we did today, many teams don’t show their fight until it is too late, but we have been showing fight for weeks.

“I know what I’ve got, I’ve got the smallest squad in the league, I’ve got the smallest staff in the Football League.

“We are going to have to fight and scrap and put our chests out and say we are Wycombe, this is what we do well and we are going to put you under pressure.”