Boss looks ahead to Crewe clash
The battle for promotion from League Two continues to hot up when Pompey host Crewe this weekend.
With second and third-placed Plymouth and Carlisle facing each other, at least one rival is guaranteed to drop points.
It is an adrenaline-fuelled stage of the season when every point gained could prove crucial to the final standings.
And Paul Cook is certainly feeling exhilarated about what lies ahead in the next couple of months.
The Blues boss said: “Everyone should be really excited now as we approach the run-in to the season.
“We’re one of a select few clubs in the country who actually have their destiny in their own hands and that’s a vital commodity.
“When you have so much to play for as a club like we do, I’m sure the fans look forward to all the games.
“It really is a fantastic time of year and as a manager, it’s just great to be involved in it all.
“I’ve had things like this for the past three years – one ended in promotion and the others in play-off defeats.
“There’s an amount of points that will get you to where you want to be and the quicker you get there, the more you can enjoy it.
“So while you’ll always look to be encouraged by the way your teams play, results are the most important thing.”
Crewe are currently down in 20th position after winning just twice in 2017, but Cook is guarding against complacency.
He said: “I think everyone realises that there’s no such thing as an easy game at this level and all teams these days have tactical nous.
“That means it can be more difficult to break opponents down and a lot of sides come to Fratton Park and get men behind the ball.
“I don’t know what Crewe will decide to do on Saturday – that’s their business – but they’ve certainly got attacking threats.
“I saw their manager quoted as saying their players could end up as milkmen if they go down.
“I think he was talking about the importance of being a professional footballer and I agreed with his sentiments because we’re all lucky to be in the jobs we’re in.”
Amine Linganzi is an injury doubt for Pompey after coming off with a groin injury against Morecambe on Tuesday night.
Cook said: “We’ll monitor him all the way up to the game and see how it is, but we certainly won’t be risking lads at this stage of the season.”
Watch the manager’s thoughts on the game below or subscribe to Pompey PlayerHD for full pre-match video content.