PORTSMOUTH FOOTBALL CLUB

Pompey have not won back-to-back matches since August.

But that is the challenge Andy Awford has set his squad ahead of their midweek trip to Dagenham & Redbridge.

They recorded a first victory of 2015 when Hartlepool were beaten 1-0 at Fratton Park on Saturday.

And Awford believes a strong defensive display can be the platform to build on that in east London.

The Blues boss said: “If you keep clean sheets then you win a lot of football matches and the whole team are responsible for that.

“We’ve done that in back-to-games and now the test for us is to get successive victories.

“The result against Hartlepool gave everyone a lift, but we’re still looking to improve in every area.

“We probably should have stuck in a few more of the chances that we created in the last couple of games, so that’s something to work on.

“But we’ve created a lot of opportunities since moving to a back three and there are players in our squad who can score a lot of goals.

“Confidence is high at the moment and we need to build on the win and do it again at Dagenham.”

Pompey are above Dagenham on goal difference in the League Two table, but Wayne Burnett’s outfit have won their last two matches.

Awford said: “They’re a hard-working side and they pass the ball well, so it’s going to be tough.

“We beat them 3-0 at our place earlier in the season, but the game was tighter than the result suggests.

“They’re on the same points as us and the table doesn’t lie at this stage of the season.

“But they’ve got some better results recently and have managed to string a couple of wins together.

“If we play to the levels we’ve shown in the last two games, though, then I’m confident we can go there and claim all three points.

“I’m hoping we can manage a similar result as last season when we won 4-1!

“I remember the supporters more than anything from that day and those memories will stay with me forever.”