Portsmouth boss Kenny Jackett on facing AFC Wimbledon – and why fine away form is not a huge factor

BY RICHARD CAWLEY

Portsmouth manager Kenny Jackett reckons his side’s impressive away record is not a major factor when they face AC Wimbledon on Saturday.

The South Coast outfit are top of the League One table and no club has taken more points on the road – 16.

Former Millwall boss Jackett said: “We’re looking forward to the game. It will have something of a derby feel. We go into a tight ground with a good crowd behind us.

“No game is easy at this particular level. I have a lot of respect for what Neal Ardley has done at the club.

“We hope it [the away form] adds confidence, but we’re a club and I’m a manager who looks forward and doesn’t look back too much. We want to be confident of what we’re doing and previous wins do give you that. But the big thing is you still need to do it. You’re only as good as your next game. It’s a big test ahead.”

Jackett will come up against Liam Trotter, who he signed for the Lions in 2010.

The midfielder, 30, has gone on to play over 350 matches in his career.

“He did great for us in a successful period at Millwall,” said Jackett “I took him in as a young lad at Ipswich where he just couldn’t quite get into a very good Ipswich side at the time. We took him down a level. He came out of League One, into the Championship and established himself there.

“It’s good to see him still going strong.”