Foster discusses system switch at Bognor
It has been a familiar formation at Pompey since Paul Cook took charge.
But the 4-2-3-1 system was rested in favour of a diamond midfield in the pre-season friendly at Bognor.
A youthful Blues side did not seem troubled by the change, as they romped to a 4-1 victory at Nyewood Lane.
Conor Chaplin, Curtis Main, Michael Smith and Adam May were all on target against the Isthmian League outfit.
And Ian Foster was happy with how they fared just 10 days before the start of the League Two campaign.
Pompey’s first team coach said: “It was a very young side we put out, but we’re aware of the minutes that everyone’s had in pre-season.
“This group of players needed to go out and have a good game of football and that’s exactly what they did.
“It was pleasing that we adapted well to a different system, the work in midfield was positive and we scored some quality goals.
“We played with a diamond which isn’t like us, but that gives the players something to think about.
“It gave Conor and Curtis the chance to strike up a bit of a partnership up front and I thought they did well.
“You’ve always got to be adaptable in football and that’s something we’re also constantly looking at in training.”
Paul Jones featured for the first time this summer, having recovered from the thigh problem that saw him miss the end of last season.
Foster said: “He’s not had many training sessions with the rest of the group and he was out for a long time with the injury.
“It’s important that we get some more match minutes into Paul going into the new season.”