The race for second place got a little more interesting as Barnsley ended the week with two points from six by drawing 0-0 at Doncaster. On Saturday it will get more interesting still if Pompey can overcome Scunthorpe at Fratton Park.

A week ago it felt like all hope of catching the Tykes and, in top spot, the Hatters were all bit over as the Blues succumbed rather meekly at The Valley.

But the midweek win at Walsall - brought about by goals from three forward players reinstated to the starting line-up - has re-energised Kenny Jackett's team and perhaps set them up to push the top two all the way, and at least make sure of a play-off place at worst over the next few games.

Scunthorpe stand in the way of Pompey closing the gap on Barnsley to four points this weekend and Jackett knows it's at the back where the platform for victory needs to be built.

The manager told the Blues website: 'We’re the second top scorers in the league — behind Luton and level with Barnsley. That’s pretty good. Where we’ve struggled recently is defensively — we’ve conceded too many goals. We’re joint seventh there and you wouldn’t have thought that if you’d seen us up until Christmas.

'I don’t want to take away the intent to get forward and win games, but there has to be a balance. You give yourself problems if you don’t keep the back door shut. We know we can do well at this level and have proved that this season — we’ve been competitive even in the games we’ve lost.

'There’s a degree of confidence, but you obviously have to keep working on that because a high standard is needed to keep pace with the sides at the top. If it’s only nine games in then you don’t worry too much about what other teams do, but we’ve got direct competition now.

'There’s nothing you can do about them, however, and can only have an effect on your own performances. We need to keep up our end of the bargain.'

There's no hint from Jackett as to who will play and who won't but it would be a surprise if Omar Bogle, Brett Pitman and Viv Solomon-Otabor did not all get starts after starring roles at Walsall.

Ronan Curtis, Bryn Morris and Andy Cannon are all out, while James Vaughan is a doubt.

Scunthorpe are 15th and will out to avenge the 2-1 win Pompey earned at Glanford Park in November.

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