Kenny Jackett saluted his players for taking maximum Easter points - but knows there can be no let-up if they are to take League One's second automatic promotion spot.

He felt his players did well to turn the games at Burton and at home to Coventry into wins. They were being held 1-1 late on at the Pirelli Stadium and were 1-0 down to Coventry with 25 minutes left.

The win took Pompey third but a win for Barnsley and a draw for Sunderland means the Blues still need to win their final three games to make sure of second spot - anything less and it could be the play-offs ahead.

Tom Naylor headed in Pompey's equaliser against the Sky Blues from a Lee Brown corner before Brett Pitman hammered in the winner in the final 10 minutes after Ronan Curtis's cross was only half cleared.

Jackett told www.portsmouthfc.co.uk: 'We’ve had two tough games over the Easter weekend against in-form teams playing with a lot of confidence. Coventry frustrated us when we had the ball in the first half and were very quick on the counter-attack.

'I felt they thoroughly deserved their lead at the break and it was a good game-plan that was well executed. There was some energy lacking and too many of our players were a yard down — it’s quite easy to look like that at this stage of the season.

'But we grew into the game during the second half and kept the pressure on them, getting the crowd behind us. We used our substitutes and kept going — James Vaughan made some key contributions when he came on.

'We were in Coventry’s half most of the time and I’m pleased to say that two of our most experienced players got decisive goals. Set-pieces looked our biggest threat and we made it pay after the break. Tom’s a strong header of the ball and I think he’s capable of scoring more.

'Then the second phase of a corner has fallen for Brett and whatever side it falls on, you expect him to keep it under the bar. It was a great finish.'

Pompey head to Sunderland two points ahead of them on Saturday but a point or less would put matters back into Barnsley's hands if they were to win.

Pompey (4-2-3-1): MacGillivray; Thompson, Burgess, Clarke, Brown; Naylor, Close; Lowe, Pitman (Walkes 90+2), Evans (Curtis 46); Hawkins (Vaughan 46). Subs not used: Bass, Haunstrup, Morris, Solomon-Otabor

Referee: Darren Drysdale

Attendance: 18,884 (1,267 away fans)

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