Jackett praises “selfless” display as Pompey extend winning run to seven games



Posted Wednesday, January 29, 2020 by PA

Jackett praises “selfless” display as Pompey extend winning run to seven games

Kenny Jackett admitted the first goal was crucial as Portsmouth made it seven straight wins in all competitions with a 2-0 victory at Lincoln.

Ronan Curtis netted a free-kick in first-half stoppage time with the first shot on target at the LNER Stadium, before John Marquis added a late penalty to ensure Pompey returned to the Sky Bet League One play-off places.

“It was a tricky game,” said Jackett. “The pitch made it difficult for both teams. It was a very bobbly pitch.

“We got a vital first goal with a terrific free-kick from Ronan Curtis. Second half going downwind I felt we were the stronger team.

“It was a good hard-working, defensively selfless performance from everybody.”

Portsmouth face fellow promotion hopefuls Sunderland on Saturday and Jackett says his side will need to continue their fine form if they want to return to the second tier.

“The division is still open, it depends what you do going forward,” he added.

“We still are in it but there is a high number of teams who can get into those promotion places.

“If we can get our form right going forward we’ve got a lot to build on and should have confidence and look forward to see if we can have a good run and get ourselves in the Championship.”

Chances were at a premium in the opening period, with Tyreece John-Jules and Curtis both off target with long-range efforts.

Curtis gave Portsmouth the lead when he fired a low free-kick from 20 yards into the far corner.

After the break home debutant Tom Hopper squared for John-Jules, but he looped his effort tamely over from 12 yards.

Lincoln missed a good chance to equalise 20 minutes from time when John-Jules laid the ball off for Conor Coventry, who curled over the bar.

Moments later Curtis was denied a second on the break by Imps goalkeeper Josh Vickers.

Substitute Cameron McGeehan was narrowly off target after a Curtis corner fell to him on the edge of the box but Marquis made the game safe when Steve Seddon was fouled in the box three minutes from time – and Curtis almost added a third, only for Vickers to smother the ball at his feet.

Lincoln manager Michael Appleton felt his side’s decision making had let them down against his former club.

“There were four or five mistakes (leading up tot the first goal),” he said.

“I think you’re always disappointed you didn’t create more but I think you’ve got to give them a bit of credit – they go ahead in the game and they didn’t create much.

“We knew how tough it would be, how organised they would be, the first goal was going to be big.”

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