Cook ready for Pompey fire to ignite

PAUL COOK is ready to feel the full force of Pompey's promotion charge as they bid to land in the top three.
Pompey boss Paul Cook Picture: Joe PeplerPompey boss Paul Cook Picture: Joe Pepler
Pompey boss Paul Cook Picture: Joe Pepler

The Blues boss believes he has yet to experience the level of energy his club are capable of producing to aid their bid for glory this season.

Cook’s men take on struggling Crewe at Fratton Park tomorrow knowing they could end the day in the automatic promotion berths.

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The Pompey manager is sensing a campaign ready to explode into life with 13 games remaining.

And Cook is demanding his players provide the spark to create a unity and drive which he believes could prove a game-changer.

He said: ‘I don’t think we’ve felt it yet. I don’t think we have.

‘It’s like opening the door and fire coming through. I just think we’re about to feel it. And we must play our part. We must get that result or two quickly which will see it happen.

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‘I believe our supporters can be the thing which gets us over the line. I really believe that. I don’t think we, as staff and players, have seen the full power yet. Others at the club have, but us as staff and players haven’t.

‘We have to join together now.

‘We haven’t given our supporters that yet. If we’d won Tuesday and Saturday after Carlisle we’d have given them it.

‘We must give our supporters that now to feel. They want to feel it – and we have to go that yard for them now.’

Carlisle go to Plymouth tomorrow in a top-of-the-table clash. A win or draw for the home side married with three Pompey points against Crewe will the Blues them leapfrog the Cumbrians.

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But with a game in hand over the third-placed team, the fate of Cook’s men is in their own hands.

He added: ‘You love that. As a manager you love it.

‘People go on about mind games – just prepare yourself.

‘At the end of the day, if we do everything right between now and the end of the season we will be promoted.

‘Now’s the time where we need to stay positive.

‘There will be a disappointing result in there, it’s just when. Every team will have it. It’s just about how to react.

‘I can’t stop other teams results. No-one can.

‘I think if you look around the league at the moment, Exeter and Luton will genuinely believe they can go up.

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‘I believe they can – but it’s about ourselves and what we can do.

‘As Portsmouth Football Club I wouldn’t swap this group and I wouldn’t swap this support for anyone’s.

‘We’re alright. We’re happy with the squad. Our support has a massive part to play.

‘I’ve been on these run-in before. It’s all about getting your result by being as positive as you can. Win your game.

‘If we win our game Saturday everything will be well. Let’s control what we can control.’