Midfielder looks ahead to Leyton Orient test
Pompey’s home matches this season have followed a similar pattern.
With very few exceptions, teams usually turn up on the south coast looking to frustrate their hosts and perhaps grab a goal on the break.
It is something that Carl Baker is getting used to, although he admits that the Blues are not the only victims.
And the midfielder knows that they have to work hard to break sides down at Fratton Park, starting with Leyton Orient on Saturday.
He said: “This is one of those games you are expected to win – at home and against a side who are struggling in the table.
“If we want to get promoted automatically this season then these are the fixtures you have to take three points from – and I mean no disrespect to Leyton Orient.
“They gave us a really good test at their place and you can tell they’re a decent side when you look at the players they’ve got.
“But I’m sure they’ll look to sit behind the ball and make life difficult for us like most teams who come to Fratton Park.
“I watched the Liverpool game the other night and it reminded me so much of us. They’ve got top class players and even they struggled to break Southampton down.
“We know it will be no different, but we need to start putting points on the board if we want to achieve our goals.
“It’s important we stay patient and keep believing that we can get that opening goal because then it forces them to come at us a bit more.”
Despite those Fratton frustrations, Baker is glad that the Blues are back at home after losing at league leaders Doncaster in their last outing.
He said: “It’s always frustrating when you don’t produce the performance you would like and you want to have another game straight away.
“That Doncaster defeat feels like a long time ago now, but we’ve got a good match coming up and thankfully it’s at home.
“We haven’t had too many at Fratton Park recently, so I’m looking forward to getting back in front of the Pompey fans and trying to put things right.”