Cook: Time to turn up heat on rivals

And the Blues boss believes tonight’s clash at Morecambe can be a catalyst to fire his side back into the race to go up automatically.

Pompey can move up to fourth in the table with three points at the Globe Arena.

Cook feels his side now need to hit form as the battle to reach League One gathers pace.

He said: It’s a massive game.

‘This week can be a catalyst for what we want to achieve.

‘Taking points this week is huge for us.

‘It’s something we’ll be making the players aware of because we want to come back with three points.

‘If we can we now need to put the teams above us under pressure.

‘It’s something the players know in no uncertain terms we must do.’

Cook and his side must quickly put the weekend defeat to Bournemouth in the FA Cup behind him.

The Blues boss feels there are lessons to be learnt after letting a winning position slip against the Cherries.

Cook said: ‘I’m disappointed and I’m glad we’ve got a game to quickly turn our attentions to.

‘We were so close to success, but couldn’t see it through. We were in a winning position Saturday and we let it go.

‘So I was disappointed, because you don’t get those opportunities often.

‘We probably put them under as much pressure as they’ve faced all season.

‘It upsets me that we couldn’t keep it up.

‘We must turn those periods of play into winning performances.’