Skip to main content Skip to site footer
Fixture News

Jackett: Back To Business

Boss says Wembley can wait with Bradford visiting on Saturday

28 February 2019

Kenny Jackett
Photo: Joe Pepler/PinPep

Pompey have been swept up in Wembley fervour since reaching the Checkatrade Trophy final earlier in the week.

And Kenny Jackett certainly does not want to dampen the mood ahead of their visit to the national stadium at the end of the March.

But he is also aware that promotion to the Championship is the club’s priority – as it has been all season.

So while Jackett is looking forward to the showpiece event, his focus is on trying to lead Pompey back to winning ways in the league.

The Blues boss said: “It was pleasing to get the victory on Tuesday night, but now we want to do the same in the league after drawing five on the spin.

“We’ve lost leads at Plymouth and Southend in recent weeks, when earlier in the season we’d have found a way to hang on.

"That’s something we can tuck away and look forward to, while we of course concentrate on our main aim this season – getting promotion."

Kenny Jackett

“We don’t think there’s a lot wrong and Bury will give the players a lot of confidence. There should be a feelgood factor about a Wembley appearance.

“That’s something we can tuck away and look forward to, while we of course concentrate on our main aim this season – getting promotion.

“We don’t have to put it out of our minds, but realise that the league is number one. It’s an old cliché, but you have to focus on the next game and do everything you can to win.”

Bradford currently have Martin Drury in caretaker charge after David Hopkin stepped down as manager of the relegation-threatened side at the beginning of the week.

Jackett said: “I don’t know if it changes things. It shows the strength of the division that a club as big as that have been in the bottom four for the majority of the season.

“You look through their squad and they have a talented bunch – we’ll certainly respect them as we would any opponent.

“But our focus is on ourselves and making sure we can keep improving as a team, putting on a performance that will bring the crowd into play.”

Christian Burgess is sidelined at the weekend after limping off with an ankle injury towards the end of Pompey’s victory at Gigg Lane.

Jackett explained: “He won’t make Saturday, but the injury isn’t too bad and we’re hoping that he’ll be better next week.

“We’ve got good defenders at the club, with Anton Walkes and Tom Naylor both able to drop in there. I’m confident we can accommodate the change.

“When Christian left the pitch at Bury, I did wonder whether it would be a case of four-six weeks, but thankfully that’s not the case.

“There are no other new injuries and we’ve got the same squad from Tuesday night, with the additions of Bryn Morris and Lloyd Isgrove.

“Omar Bogle is not doing too bad, but he is probably still a week or two away with his tight hamstring.”

Apologies, this video is unvailable.

Advertisement block

iFollow Next Match Tickets Account