Boss more concerned with Pompey than Plymouth
Pompey face one of their trickiest tests of the campaign when they journey along the south coast to take on Plymouth this weekend.
John Sheridan’s Pilgrims have been beaten just once at home in the league all season.
The visitors, meanwhile, have just a single tally in the away triumphs column ahead of their trip to Home Park.
But Andy Awford is confident that his side can upset the formbook in front of the Sky Sports television cameras.
The Blues boss said: “I went to watch Plymouth at Coventry in the JPT during the week and they had a strong side out, so I learnt quite a bit.
“They’ve done well at home this season and not so well away – a bit like us really.
"They have enjoyed a good start and sit inside the top seven, but it’s up to us to go there and halt their charge.
“It will be tough down there, but our league form has been good of late and we’ll have a right good go.
“We don’t look too much at the other team anyway – it’s more about what we do. If we approach the game properly then we’ll be fine.
“We have to push our preparations forward a bit with the early kick-off on Saturday, but it won’t make too much difference.”
James Dunne will be out of action for a while after undergoing knee surgery during the week.
Awford said: “It was the cartilage damage that we thought and I’ve been told by our medical staff that he should be out for around seven to eight weeks.
“It might have been a lot worse and that’s probably the best we could have hoped for.
“We’ve got a squad of talented footballers here, so we’ll have to see if someone comes in and grabs their place in the team.”
Pompey are 5/2 with Sky Bet to beat Plymouth. Open an account at www.skybet.com/pompey to help the Blues win £250,000 from the Sky Bet Transfer Fund.