Campaign finale can ease Fratton tension for Pompey

Blues assistant manager, Leam Richardson, believes teams will be forced to come to Pompey with greater ambition over the campaign’s finale.

And that can help Paul Cook’s men unlock rival defences as they chase promotion.

Plymouth are the only side in the top six Pompey face over the final 13 games.

Of the rest, the opposition are either on the fringes of the play-off picture or in the bottom nine.

Richardson believes that can be beneficial to his side.

He said: ‘Our final games present all different kinds of tests.

‘That’s regarding people fighting relegation and people pushing for promotion.

‘People are trying to get into the play-offs and people are trying to hang on.

‘You get a different test, and when it gets down to the last 10 games I don’t think people can sit behind the ball.’

The Blues have undoubtedly struggled with sides who have come to Fratton Park with limited ambition this term.

But, as the need for wins increases for sides at both ends of the table. Richardson believes the chances of witnessing entertaining games will go up.

He added: ‘When two teams come and have a game it creates a better atmosphere and a better spectacle. That’s what we want. Fingers crossed it will help us.

‘People need points at this time of the season. We’re not the only ones.

‘Even the lads in the top three need points because people are chasing them, and chasing hard.

‘So people will need to be more expansive and try to win more games now.’

– JORDAN CROSS