3 minute read
DANNY COWLEY
GOOD AFTERNOON TO YOU ALL AS WE GET READY TO FACE BURTON ALBION IN THE LATEST SKY BET LEAGUE ONE FIXTURE AT FRATTON PARK
We come into the weekend buoyed by taking maximum points from the Easter period. We were pleased with aspects of our play against Rochdale. It’s the first time that we’ve faced a team that have pressed as high and aggressively. We were able to break their press on numerous occasions in the first half and scored a really good goal that involved 17 passes. It was also positive to score after winning the ball back from our high press. This gave us a really good place in the game. We lost our way a little bit in the middle part of the first half, but were able to regain control going into the break. We were then pleased with the first part of the second half, but disappointed that we could not add to our two-goal lead. Credit to a determined Rochdale side, though, who never gave up and went to the very end. On reflection, we felt that we could have enjoyed more control in the latter part of the match and were disappointed to concede in the dying moments. Successful teams are able to keep clean sheets on a consistent basis and it is definitely something that we need to work towards.
We travelled to a rejuvenated Wigan on Easter Monday and it was great to see their long-term future secured. I am so pleased for their players, staff and supporters. What happened to them last season should never happen in English football. I can only imagine how tough it has been for everyone connected to the club and I’m pleased that there is now light at the end of their tunnel. It was probably our worst display and, subsequently, our most important victory. The pitch was particularly difficult, as were the overhead conditions. We didn’t commit to the way that we want to play. We lacked energy and intensity on our press and we weren’t brave enough in possession. However, we scored with a brilliant individual effort from Andy Cannon and defended our goal with real focus and determination. While it is important to win when you don’t play well, our focus is always the performance. We took a lot of learning from the game that will help us moving forward. Nicky and I spent some time at the Pompey in the Community soccer school on Wednesday. It was great to meet all of the young fans and see their enthusiasm and passion – both for football and this club. It was also fantastic to see, firsthand, the outstanding work the club does within the community. We look forward to being involved with this in any way we can. We go into the last eight fixtures with everything to play for. Our ambition is to keep improving our performance, both in possession and against the ball. We are working really hard to make this a reality. I think the future looks really exciting for everyone associated with Portsmouth Football Club. If we are going to achieve what we all want, then we are going to need everybody pulling in the same direction and driving the energy of the players. This was never going to be an 11-man job. We are motivated and inspired to create a team that you can all be proud of. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and his Burton team to Fratton Park for today’s game. They have enjoyed an unbelievable turnaround since he joined the club at the turn of the year. They were not only bottom of the league, but well adrift of the teams above. They now find themselves, at the beginning of April, looking up rather than beneath them.
Play up Pompey!
Danny
