PORTSMOUTH FOOTBALL CLUB

Pompey have been scoring goals galore at Fratton Park this season.

The 5-1 rout of Barnet on Saturday took their home tally to 15 from just five games and helped secure second spot in the table.

But it is a different story on the road, where they have found the target only once – a late Gary Roberts penalty to see off Exeter last month.

And ahead of Pompey’s midweek visit to Blackpool, Cook is hoping his side can take their Fratton form on the road.

The Blues boss said: “We’re a bit Jekyll and Hyde at the moment when you compare our home performances to our away performances.

“So it’s important that we go there and have a positive effect on the game – we want to be the best team on the pitch.

“That doesn’t mean that we will – Blackpool are a very strong side. But we haven’t stamped our authority away from home yet and want that to change.

“I’d love to be able to tell you that there’s a magic formula, but there’s not. We haven’t travelled well yet and it’s something we’ll keep working on.

“I’ve got great faith in our players. They didn’t change between the bus trip home to Accrington and 5pm on Saturday.

“But you look at Gary Roberts’ goal against Barnet and it was so natural because the game seems a lot easier when you’ve got confidence.”

Blackpool were relegated from the third tier last term and have won just two of their opening nine matches this season, but Cook is not taking them lightly.

He said: “I still think they’re one of the sides that can challenge to go up this season and they’ve been the better team in a lot of their games – including defeats.

“It was the same at Crewe on Saturday and they’re a little bit like us last term, in the sense that perhaps they have drawn too many.

“You look at the table and it’s 16th v 2nd, but I think it’ll be one of the toughest away tests we’ll have.

“They’ve got strong players who can win football games, but haven’t necessarily got what they’ve deserved.”