PORTSMOUTH FOOTBALL CLUB

Pompey netted nine goals in two matches to beat Cambridge and Tranmere last month.

But they have found the target just once in the following three games to halt their steady climb up the League Two table.

With just one conceded against Oxford, Northampton and Accrington, the Fratton faithful will be hoping to see similar success at the other end of the pitch.

That is certainly what Andy Awford is looking for against a promotion-chasing Luton side this weekend.

The Blues boss said: “They’ve had a good season and have been up there throughout.

“Their manager John Still is a fantastic fellow and he’s somebody who has been there and seen it all at this level.

“If you can’t learn off him then you’re not going to learn, as he’s a very astute football person.

“However, they’ve lost four of their last five games and only won one of the last 12 on their travels.

“So if ever there’s a time to play Luton then it’s probably now, especially as our performance levels have been good of late.

“We haven’t scored enough goals in the last few games, but we’ve had a lot of possession and now we need to turn that into wins again.”

Pompey drew 1-1 at Luton back in December, with Ryan Taylor cancelling out Luke Rooney’s opener.

Awford said: “It was an important game in our season. After going a goal down following a tricky spell, I think people thought we might roll over, but we didn’t do that.

“I think it showed me that our players still had plenty of fight in them and it showed the supporters that we still had belief.”

Awford has recalled Danny East from a loan spell at Aldershot to provide some cover for Josh Passley.

He said “Josh has got a bit of a niggle and is touch-and-go for Saturday.

“I didn’t want us to be exposed in that wing-back area, so the sensible thing to do was bring Danny back.

“I went to watch him play on Tuesday night and he showed plenty of energy and got through the 90 minutes.”