Possession statistics? They don't concern Portsmouth boss Kenny Jackett

Certainly Kenny Jackett dismisses the significance of possession statistics, with MK Dons a perfect example.

Russell Martin’s side amassed 71 per cent of possession during last weekend’s Fratton Park encounter.

Regardless, a Blues side forced to introduce an extra centre-half and grittily defend deep for large spells, emerged as 2-1 winners.

Despite the outcome lifting Pompey into ninth in League One, there was criticism fired their way over the lack of possession over the match’s duration.

Doncaster are next scheduled at Fratton Park on Saturday, a team which line up in a 4-3-3 which differs to MK Dons’ system.

And Jackett shrugged off the relevance of those possession statistics.

He told The News: ‘Possession is something you look at, but I don’t think it is the number one stat.

‘With statistics, you can bend them towards whatever case you want to put forward.

‘But the big ones are action shots, shots on target, shots from inside the box. Possession helps you to get there, it doesn’t get you shots, so that’s not enough on its own.

‘Any manager would definitely want the majority of possession because it gives you a better chance, but after that possession stat it’s what you do with it.

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‘The beauty of football is the stats you take notice of are a mix of it all. I don’t think you can say it is just one you pay attention to.

‘You also have to be very, very careful. You can look at stats a bit too much and not believe what you see with your own eyes.’

Doncaster are one point behind the Blues in League One, sitting in 11th spot.

The sides’ last encounter was in October 2019, when the Blues left the Keepmoat Stadium with a last-gasp 2-1 victory.

The corresponding fixture fell to coronavirus, when the league programme was scrapped.

Jackett added: ‘They are tight matches, Doncaster are a very capable side who are always there or thereabouts.’

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