Boss targets cup run ahead of Yeovil clash
Pompey suffered their first league loss of the season against Newport at the weekend.
But Andy Awford is not getting carried away after that blip.
His side have an immediate chance to get the result out of the system when they visit Yeovil in the opening round of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy on Tuesday evening.
And Awford is hopeful of a run in the competition – especially with a trip to the national stadium on offer for the finalists.
The Blues boss said: “It’s a realistic opportunity for us to go and play at Wembley, even though we’ve got a difficult away draw for us at Yeovil.
“We don’t want to lose any games, so we’ll have a good go in the competition and see where we end up.
“You can over-analyse defeats, so we’ve got to be careful with what happened on Saturday – it’s one league defeat for us in the opening five games.
“You’re going to lose matches and it’s the manner of those results I’m more concerned with and the effort was certainly there from our players.”
Pompey will travel to Huish Park to face a side who were relegated from the second tier last term.
And Awford hopes that the Blues can spring another cup upset against Gary Johnson’s Glovers.
He said: “They’re from a division above us, but we’ve already been a League One side this season and there’s no reason why we can’t go there and get a positive result.
“It’s going to be a tough game, of course – they’ve got players who have performed in the Championship.
“They’re very strong as a team, with big strong boys at the back and in the middle of the park.”
Patrick Agyemang, Michael Poke and Alex Wynter are all available for selection at Yeovil following injuries.
But Jack Whatmough (ankle) is a doubt after only just returning to light training, while Ben Chorley suffered a dead leg against Newport.