by Johnny Moore
Michael Appleton believes Pompey have what it takes to end a 44-year wait for victory at Peterborough.
Three points would be a major step towards Appleton’s primary aim this season – keeping the Blues out of the bottom three.
Pompey are seven points clear of the relegation places with a game in hand, but injuries and suspensions have put pressure on the club’s small squad.
Appleton was just beginning a four-season spell as a Preston player the last time Pompey visited London Road.
That was in August 1997 when goals from Hamilton Thorp and David Hillier earned the Blues a 2-2 draw in a League Cup first round first leg tie that Pompey went on to lose 3-2 on aggregate.
To find a Blues win at London Road you need go back to New Year’s Day 1968 when a Ray Hiron goal was enough to earn a 1-0 FA Cup third round victory.
The Blues lost on their next trip to the Fens but have, incredibly, drawn the last six.
Pompey will also be seeking revenge for their cruel 3-2 home defeat back in September when a cruel injury-time own-goal by Erik Huseklepp settled the game.
But they will again be without Luke Varney (knee) and the suspended David Norris, while Aaron Mokoena is battling to recover from a sore hamstring.
Appleton said: “Darren Ferguson’s got Peterborough playing some very good football and we’ll need to be on our game.
“They utilise their midfield really well and it’s going to be a very tough match, but we would expect nothing else.
“You only have to look at our record to know that we’re finding it difficult away from home. Peterborough are going to be a very difficult team to go to and get something from.
“I watched their game last weekend and it has to be said that they played very well against Brighton with no reward.
“Overall it looked like Brighton had gone there for a draw with a lot of players behind the ball, but they hit them twice on the break.
“We know we’re capable of winning on Saturday and I just hope we’re lucky enough to have enough people playing in their natural positions.”
Appleton admits that the club’s current precarious position prevents him looking too far beyond Saturday.
“I don’t have a big squad to utilise so I don’t look to far down the line, basically taking every game as it comes” he admitted.
“At the same time I have to be a realist and if we finish in 21st position come the end of the season then I will be delighted.
“That’s not being negative in the slightest from my point of view, but the sooner people realise the difficult position we are in the better. It’s a position we are prepared to fight our way out of and I have a strong group of players to do that.
“At the moment my aim is all about bringing some stability to the club – and then we can talk about climbing further up the table.”
Aged 36 and in his first managerial post, Appleton believes Pompey’s current situation can only make him a better manager.
He said: “All the opposition managers I talk to say that I’m probably doing more in the first few months than I will in the next few years.
“I’m doing things at the moment that I never expected to do as a manager and, having been at a club like West Brom where the infrastructure is as good as anything in the country, it is a bit of a baptism of fire.
“But I love coming into work every morning and I have a great set of staff and players. All in all I’m relishing the challenge.”