Zesh Rehman hailed a positive night under the lights for his Pompey Academy players at Fratton Park.
They cruised to a 6-1 victory over Three Bridges on a wet south coast evening to reach the second round of the FA Youth Cup.
There were two goals each for Jamie Howell and Koby Mottoh, while Sam Folarin and Adam Payce were also on target.
And Rehman was pleased with how his young charges remained professional throughout, having broken the deadlock after just 64 seconds.
Pompey’s lead professional development phase coach said: “The boys started really well and we got a quick goal, which makes it easier, while our approach was spot on.
“We showed respect by treating the game the way I expect and were on the front foot right from the beginning.
"It’s brilliant for the boys to play under the lights at Fratton Park – these are the games they want to be involved in."
“I thought we looked really aggressive, started in their half and did all the things we spoke about before the game.
“The focus was all on us – how we were going to score, how we could get in behind and what spaces we can exploit.
“One thing we really put emphasis on as an academy is about being stronger together and it doesn’t matter who scores the goals, everyone is involved. We celebrate as a team.
“It’s brilliant for the boys to play under the lights at Fratton Park – these are the games they want to be involved in.
“Some of them will have experienced that for the first time and they can take a lot of confidence. Hopefully it will have inspired them to want to be back on this kind of stage in the future.”
The young Blues have another chance to impress at Fratton Park, as they have been drawn at home to Cambridge in round two.
Rehman said: “It will be great to be back here. Now that the lads have had a taste, they’ll be better prepared for it.”
✅ Progression to the second round
— Portsmouth FC Academy (@PompeyAcademy) November 3, 2022
🎥 Lead PDP Coach Zesh Rehman talks through the Blues' 6-1 FA Youth Cup victory against Three Bridges.#Pompey pic.twitter.com/Twc3Vd0e8n