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Some take the FA Cup lightly - not Jackett and Pompey
Saturday, 1st Dec 2018 19:17 by pompey-fans.com staff

Some League One and League Two teams seem to see FA Cup defeats as a relief - a chance to focus on their league campaigns.

It's an odd outlook, at least as far as most fans are concerned, and there'll be no such approach from Pompey as head to Rochdale for their second round tie at Spotland on Sunday afternoon.

Manager Kenny Jackett said the Blues were taking the cup seriously and wanted to get through to set up a potential tie with a big club in round three.

He told the club website: 'It is such a great competition and it’s one that we are really eager to progress in if we can. It was a hard-fought win at Rochdale earlier in the season and both teams will certainly know a lot about each other.

'If you want to go far then you will have to come through many different tests and we had a tricky away tie at a non-league club in the first round. Now we’ve got a team from our level — also away from home — and hopefully we can go through and draw one of the big boys.'

Jackett expects to be without David Wheeler in addition to Joe Mason and Dion Donohue, but is not expected to make many, if any, changes to the side who began the 2-0 home win over Walsall.

The boss's positive approach to the tie is shared by Matt Clarke, who told portsmouthfc.co.uk: 'We’re treating it the same as we would any other game that we might play in any competition.

'I know that the fans are more fond of the FA Cup than the Checkatrade Trophy, although when you’re on the pitch it’s all the same. This is a game that we want to win and there are obviously big prizes the further you progress in the competition.'

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