Pompey have tended to bounce back well from defeat this season - and Kenny Jackett says they must show their character to do so again at Oxford next Saturday.

His challenge follows one of the Blues' worst displays of the season at home to Blackpool, which ended with Chris Long's 75th-minute goal condemning them to their third home league loss of the season.

Pompey are still four points clear at the top thanks to Luton and Sunderland drawing, but the Fratton fans went home knowing it could have been a bigger gap had Jackett's men been on their game against the Tangerines.

The manager told the club website: 'We couldn’t get our ball players going in the first half and didn’t create anything — it was a bit of a non-event. There were one or two scares at both ends, but no clear-cut chances and as the home side, it’s up to us to set the tempo and take the initiative.

'We did get going after the break and I always felt confident that we could lift ourselves because it’s happened to us on previous occasions. The vast majority of play was from us and the game was taking place almost entirely in Blackpool’s half of the pitch.

'But we couldn’t find that extra half a yard to get away from what I have to say is a very good defence. It looked like a goal was coming, only for them to convert one of their minimal opportunities from a decent finish.

'There was just a sense of frustration that we couldn’t be as clinical in the opposition box because we certainly got the ball in there enough during the second half. We have to look at what we did and didn’t do on this occasion, as well as what we need to do in the future to be the team we want to be.

'You always have to show your character in professional football, so we have to be fit and ready to go to Oxford next week.'

The absence of Ben Thompson, now back at Millwall, was seen as key by most observers and all eyes will be on Jackett's selection at the Kassam - where Shrewsbury's Bryn Morris, due to sign for Pompey on Monday, could make his debut.

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