Yes, Cobblers must improve at both ends - but it's too early to get the pitchforks out

Despite the heavy margin of defeat, Town actually played well at Fratton Park, particularly in the first-half, and could – nay, should – have been two goals to the good by the time John Marquis’ instinctive finish on 38 minutes set Pompey on their way.

But talk of what if and what could have been is beginning to wear a little thin with supporters following a sixth defeat in seven league games. Points, ultimately, are the only currency that matter.

“We have to take the positives out of it because we created plenty of chances,” said goalkeeper Jonathan Mitchell. “But we’ve got to be more ruthless in both boxes.

“It just seems like it’s not going for us at the moment but we’re creating chances and I actually thought we played well in the first-half. We were on top and had the best of the chances.

“The first two goals are frustrating. It doesn’t really matter about making the first save if it goes in off the rebound. We’ve just got to be better in the two boxes.

“I know I keep repeating it but there are positives for us, even though the scoreline doesn’t suggest it because we have been beaten 4-0.”

Mitchell is right to insist there were positives and it would be overly simplistic to take one look at the final scoreline and conclude the Cobblers didn't even put up a fight against Kenny Jackett's in-form.

That just wasn’t the case. In fact, for the first 38 minutes at Fratton Park, Town didn’t just match Portsmouth, they were the better team and missed a golden chance to break the deadlock when Ryan Watson, with only the keeper to beat, dragged wide.

But similar things were said after Saturday's defeat to Charlton Athletic and the fact of the matter is, in both cases, they walked away empty-handed. It's a cruel game and this is an unforgiving league, as Keith Curle's stuttering team is finding out.

Town’s six defeats this season have come at home to Peterborough, Hull and Charlton, and on the road to Portsmouth, Bristol Rovers and Plymouth Argyle.

Four of those six teams have aspirations to be in the Championship – at least – in the very near future, while the other two have bigger budgets and are further along in their respective journeys. This is the harsh reality of League One football, especially for a team that were only pieced together over the past few months.

But, by the same token, there is no getting away from the fact that the Cobblers must improve at both ends of the pitch to get out of their rut. They have the worst goal difference in the league (-11), no team has conceded more goals (18) and only two have scored fewer (7).

So although it's too early to get the pitchforks out now, sooner rather than later Town need to start churning out consistent results and it's in these next five matches, against Wigan (currently 19th), MK Dons (17th), Accrington (12th), Burton (24th) and Rochdale (14th), where the true test lies for Curle’s men.

Mitchell added: “We know there are no easy games in this division but we have played a lot of the so-called bigger teams recently and that gives us a chance for for test ourselves against the best.

“But everyone is fighting for something and we’ve got to stay positive, keep plugging away and keep believing because it will turn for us. It wouldn’t surprise me if we went on a run and climbed the table.”

If there was any blame attached to Mitchell for Pompey’s first goal on Tuesday, the same certainly can’t be said for the second when he pulled off a spectacular save from Ronan Curtis, only for Marquis to again react quicker than his defenders.

The 25-year-old Derby loanee recently displaced Steve Arnold between the sticks and despite conceding four at Fratton Park, he will be hopeful of keeping his spot.

“That’s what every player wants – to play games,” he added. “We’ve got competition for places all over the pitch and me and Arnie keep pushing each other and that makes each other better.

“We’re really close in the goalkeeping department. Myself, Arnie and Watto (Dan Watson) all just want to help one another and make sure we’re improving.”