Boss looks ahead to Luton test
Pompey are still very much in the hunt for League Two promotion at the midway stage of the season.
But Paul Cook knows they will have to improve their Fratton form if that ambition is to be realised.
There is a chance to give the home support something to cheer when Luton visit the south coast on Monday.
The Hatters are also eager to exit the fourth tier, though, and are one place further back in fifth spot after beating Barnet on New Year’s Eve.
Pompey, meanwhile, have only lost one of their last nine league games, but Cook wants to see draws turned into victories to help close the gap on the top three.
The Blues boss said: “Points picked up here and there are important, but you can’t draw your way to promotion, so we need to win games.
“We all know that we have to do better at Fratton Park and that 12th man can be very important for us.
“We’re certainly doing okay on our travels at the moment, although we must find a way to make our fans happy at home.
“The target is to win promotion, though, and in the end it doesn’t really matter where you pick the points up if you achieve that.
“There’s a lot of positivity around this club at the moment and with 23 fixtures to go, there is a lot to play for.
“Preparation is key and after we played Yeovil I travelled up to watch Doncaster at Mansfield, while Leam Richardson went across to watch Luton.
“It’ll be tough for them with just a day between the two games and both teams will probably have to make changes.
“But I’m sure it will be a smashing contest between two good teams and it’s one we’re very much looking forward to.”