Gareth Evans knows that Pompey are currently the team everyone wants to beat.
So he was pleased to see them negotiate their latest challenge with a 1-0 victory over struggling Bradford at Valley Parade.
Wearing the captain’s armband, the attacking midfielder notched the only goal of the game in the early stages to continue a superb unbeaten away record.
And Evans was always aware that the Blues would not have it all their own way, despite the gap between the sides.
He said: “I thought we were the better team throughout the game, but that’s not to say that Bradford weren’t in it.
“We’ve held out to take the three points home and our away record continues. All in all, it was a good day at the office.
"Everyone wants to beat the team that’s sitting at the top of the league – and that happens to be us at the moment."
“We knew that it wasn’t going to be easy for us because Bradford are good team on paper and I’m sure they’ll be a decent outfit when everyone gels. It’s just not quite happening for them.
“People might have looked at the fixture and expected a comfortable away win, but that certainly wasn’t the case.
“Everyone wants to beat the team that’s sitting at the top of the league – and that happens to be us at the moment.”
Evans converted Ronan Curtis’ cut-back to take his personal tally for the season to five goals and down his former club in the process.
He said: “I did enjoy it – I’m not going to lie. I don’t have any ill feelings towards Bradford, but I’m a Pompey player and want to contribute to us doing well. That’s all I care about.
“It was a good passage of play and Ronan beat his man down the outside before clipping it back. I was pleased to see it hit the back of the net.
“We know we can hurt teams if we get the ball out wide and it’s pleasing to see the work we’re doing in training pay off on the Saturday.”