PORTSMOUTH FOOTBALL CLUB

Andy Awford is searching for a solution to Pompey’s poor record on the road this season.

The Blues have not won a League Two match on the road since defeating Oxford back in August.

And there has been just one goal scored since Craig Westcarr’s winner at the Kassam Stadium – a Jed Wallace penalty in October’s defeat at Shrewsbury.

It is a far cry from Pompey’s form at Fratton Park, where they eased to a 3-0 victory over Morecambe last Saturday.

They have also netted three goals in each of their last three league matches on home soil.

And Awford is hoping to take some of that fine form to struggling Tranmere this weekend.

The Blues boss said: “It’s like chalk and cheese and unless we change that, we’ll remain a mid-table team.

“The Tranmere game is just as important for me as the match against Morecambe last Saturday.

“We need to find some consistency because it’s almost a given for me that we will pick up points at home throughout the season.

“An away win will really kick-start the season and we know where we need to improve because we haven’t won on the road since Oxford.

“We can’t keep playing like we did against Carlisle and Morecambe and then coming home with nothing from our away games – I’ve stressed that to the players.

“I’m not really worried about free-flowing, sexy football, but we need to dig in at Prenton Park and produce a solid performance.”

Tranmere have won just once at home in the league all season and only goal difference is keeping them off the foot of the table.

Awford said: “It won’t be easy and we’re not paying any attention to their position because we need to stay professional.

“I know their manager Micky Adams quite well and he’ll have made them harder to beat. It’s going to be tough and we have to go there with the right mentality.”