Portsmouth back on the rise?
Bet365After so many years of falling down the pyramid, Portsmouth are back on the rise.
Ten years ago, Pompey were four games into a season that would result in an eighth-placed finish in the Premier League and an FA Cup victory – their first major trophy in 58 years.
The decline since has been well-documented. Relegation from the top flight in 2010 and by 2013 they found themselves in League Two.
Two years ago, however, things started to turn around. Although they were beaten in the play-off semi-finals, it was the first time in eight seasons that they’d finish higher than the campaign before. The League Two title followed last season and now finally, once again, progress is being made.
A change of manager
Portsmouth host Rotherham at Fratton Park on Sky Sports Football on Sunday, but the man in charge could easily have been leading the visiting party.
Kenny Jackett replaced Paul Cook in the summer despite the fact his previous job was an unmitigated disaster, resigning after just 39 days and five games in charge at doomed Rotherham last season.
„It was the wrong move at the wrong time,“ said Jackett. „I take responsibility for that. You have to move on, and move on quickly. I have to concentrate on the job I have here and am very pleased to have.
„Did the parameters move? No not necessarily. I take full responsibility. It didn’t work out. I read the people wrong and I read the situation wrong. So unfortunately I had to move on quickly.“
That didn’t stop Pompey from moving for the 55-year-old when Cook left, and they even managed a creditable draw at Wigan last weekend – the first points the Latics had dropped this season – to show their credentials. Losing Cook may have been a blow, but in Jackett they have a man who knows his way out of League One.
A solid start
Life back in the third tier has begun in solid, if not spectacular, fashion. Five points from four games; four goals scored, five conceded. 14th in the league.
But it’s the enthusiasm of the Fratton Park faithful in the last decade which has been remarkable. 10 years ago, 20,510 came through the door to witness a 1-1 draw with Manchester United in their first home game of the 2007/08 season. This season, 18,009 watched on as they beat Rochdale on opening day.
To try and put that into some kind of perspective, Blackburn had 24,917 come into Ewood Park for their first home game of the Premier League season in 2007/08 – a 1-1 draw with Arsenal – and 12,223 for their first of this campaign – a 3-1 defeat to Doncaster.
Expectations
„No one thought Pompey would storm it straight away, but I reckoned they’d make a decent fist of it, which you’ve got to say they’ve done so far,“ said Sky Sports EFL expert David Prutton.
„It’s not quite promotion form just yet, and I think Jackett has got a big job on his hands. There’s expectation to do what he did at Wolves and Millwall, but it feels like a good fit.
„Portsmouth will feel like they belong at a higher level, and in time they’ll get back there. At this moment, though, they’re probably where they should be.“
Within the camp, there is a positive mood though, and defender Christian Burgess is looking up rather than down.
„We’re a big club and we know that,“ he told Sky Bet before the start of the season. „I feel confident with the lads we have that we’ve got a strong squad, and obviously I think we’ll be looking for top half and trying to push into those play-off spots. Anything better than that would be a bonus.
„It’d be wrong to say we aren’t going to be ambitious and try to carry the momentum on that we’ve got.“
Star man
One man who has helped raise expectations at the club is marquee summer signing Brett Pitman, who arrived from Championship Ipswich and has netted three times in four games so far.
„There’s not many clubs I would’ve dropped down a league for,“ said Pitman. „I don’t see really see it as a drop down, though. It’s an opportunity to get promoted. I’ve had three promotions in my career and there’s no better feeling, so hopefully I can get a fourth with Portsmouth.
„It wasn’t geography which was the attraction, it was coming to Portsmouth and playing in front of big crowds. The manager (Kenny Jackett) has spoken about how he wants to play, and people will see that over the season. He’s got a great track record for promotion at this level, and there’s no reason he can’t do it here.
„I’ve played at Fratton Park before as an away player and you realise how good the fans are. That was an attraction as was the project the manager sold to me.“
Don’t miss the Sky Bet League One clash between Portsmouth and Rotherham on Sunday, live on Sky Sports Football from 2.15pm
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