Jackett keeps Portsmouth grounded after going six points clear

Posted Sunday, December 09, 2018 by PA

Portsmouth manager Kenny Jackett urged his side to stay grounded after a 2-0 win at home to Southend send them six points clear at the top of League One.

Michael Turner’s early own goal and an eighth of the season from top-scorer Jamal Lowe saw in-form Pompey cruise to their eighth successive victory in front of an elated Fratton Park.

But Jackett said: “It was a good performance and something to build on. The players are in a good place but we have to keep our feet on the ground and keep humble.

“Work rate is something that has to be there if you want to be a good side. One off performances won’t get you anywhere.

“We deserved to win and could have scored more goals with the number of chances we created.

“We defended well and limited them to zero shots on target, so that is pleasing.

“The relationship between the crowd and the players was good and we were able to feed off that, which is always important.”

Pompey were given a helping hand when Southend defender Michael Turner set them on their way to victory with an 11th minute own goal.

Man of the match Ronan Curtis drove in a cross and the hapless Turner turned the ball into his own net under pressure from Oli Hawkins.

Defender Matt Clarke had missed an easy header when Lowe doubled the advantage in the 29th minute.

Curtis was again the creator, crossing for Lowe to head home off the post.

Southend rarely threatened to cause an upset as Pompey benefitted from the abandonment of promotion rivals Sunderland’s game at Accrington being abandoned due to a waterlogged pitch.

Shrimpers manager Chris Powell admitted conceding the early own goal gave his team a mountain to climb.

Powell said: “It was a tough day in the end. We didn’t have the start we wanted and to go 1-0 down after ten minutes with an own goal puts you straight on the back foot.

“You want to stay in the game a bit longer, but once it’s 2-0 it’s a tough afternoon as we knew it would be, but you want to stay in the game a bit longer.

“I had to get into them at half-time and they got around one another and we tried to force the issue in the second half.

“We kept them relatively quiet but the damage was done.”