Have Portsmouth finally got the minerals to earn promotion to the Championship?

Portsmouth were promoted to League One after earning promotion from League Two, winning the title on goal difference just ahead of Plymouth Argyle.

But since then, they have been aiming to work their way back into the Championship, although they keep missing out every season but having began the season so strongly, could this be the season they finally break into the second tier for the first time since 2012.

Manager Kenny Jacket has led them to success at Wembley in the EFL Trophy but since arriving in 2017 has struggled to get the club back where many feel they belong but this season has had a positive start.

Pompey lie in third at present, just a point off top spot with a game hand which is currently occupied by Hull City who they host at Fratton Park this weekend in a massive clash in the race for promotion.

? A win to leapfrog Hull at the top

? Watch highlights from our 2-0 victory at the KCOM Stadium#Pompey

— Portsmouth FC (@Pompey) December 19, 2020

The South Coast side have been in fine form in recent weeks, winning four of their last five in the competition and with the halfway mark of the season approaching, they will back themselves to at the very least earn a spot in the play off places.

A large part of their success to this point in the season, has been their incredible defensive record which has seen them keep nine clean sheets, only bettered by Lincoln City and ship just 15 goals which is the fewest in the division and has gone a long way to their success.

Whilst their defence has been watertight this term, their attack has also been the best in the division, finding the back of the net 37 times in the first 21 which is more than any club to this point.

A large part of this has been down to the form of  John Marquis who has scored 11 goals in 21 matches, with a goal conversion rate of 26% which is right up and among the best, scoring a goal every 149 minutes.

He has also been a creative spark for Jacket, laying on four assists for his teammates from 15 chances created in the campaign and a pass accuracy of 65% and he has been vital for the club, and is beginning to settle in fully following his move from Doncaster Rovers in 2019.

In their first season back in League One, Pompey ended up in eighth place, only finishing outside the final play off place occupied by Charlton Athletic by five points in a solid first season back in the third tier.

The following season, the club ended inside the play off places in fourth to set up a two legged affair with Sunderland but were unable to get the better of the North East club, losing 1-0 on aggregate as the club narrowly missed out on promotion.

Last season, Jackett led Pompey to a fifth place finish in League One which brought the club another play off tie which ultimately ended in disappointment once again with Oxford winning 5-4 on penalties to consign the club to another season of football in the third tier.

Pompey have begun this season superbly and reached the summit for a time when they saw off Saturday’s opponents Hull City by 2-0 at the KC Stadium but after the Hampshire club missed a game due to an FA Cup tie with Bristol City. They have the perfect opportunity to put another marker out with victory over the Tigers this weekend, where they can go top if results go there way elsewhere.