Manager wants another victory against Northampton
It is something that the Blues have failed to do once this season.
But Richie Barker is targeting back-to-back league wins to kick-start Pompey’s campaign.
A 1-0 Boxing Day victory over Dagenham & Redbridge was the perfect Christmas present for the Fratton faithful.
And Barker wants to see a similar display when bottom-of-the-table Northampton – who sacked manager Aidy Boothroyd before Christmas – visit the south coast on Sunday.
The Blues boss said: “I’ve set them the task of getting as many back-to-back wins as possible – they don’t half do you a favour.
“It’s important that we try to do that and have to make sure we don’t rest on our laurels.
“We can’t think that we only have to turn up because we won the last game 1-0.
“Northampton are at the wrong end of the table – just as we are. But the change in manager might provide a bit of motivation.
“They lost in the play-off final last season, so it shows that you can’t expect to turn up and do well just because of what’s happened in the past.”
Simon Ferry and Marcos Painter both limped off with hamstring troubles against Dagenham.
They join Andy Barcham (thigh) and Shaun Cooper (hamstring) on the injury list, although Bondz N’Gala is available again following a one-match ban.
Barker said: “We certainly won’t be putting the same team out. A couple of the lads came off with little niggles, so there will be a head count at the weekend.”
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