Pompey v Barnet: Stevens calls for cool heads

ENDA STEVENS told his Pompey team-mates: Stay patient.
Enda Stevens. Picture: Joe PeplerEnda Stevens. Picture: Joe Pepler
Enda Stevens. Picture: Joe Pepler

The Blues defender believes Paul Cook’s side have to avoid rising frustration levels as teams try to negate them.

Pompey aim to get back to winning ways at Fratton Park against Barnet tomorrow after two home draws in the league.

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Stevens has seen sides try to cancel out his new team on a number of occasions to date.

The 25-year-old feels the challenge is to remain cool when that is the case, with the conviction Pompey are trying to do the right things.

But the Irishman promised there is a determination to put right last weekend’s disappointment.

He said: ‘It was frustrating against Accrington. We didn’t play to our capabilities.

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‘Hopefully now we have a chance to rectify that draw against Barnet.

‘The draw wasn’t a terrible result but we want to win games.

‘Accrington came, played well and made it tough

‘Maybe we need to stay patient and not get too frustrated with ourselves. Hopefully that is something we can put right.’

Barnet arrive at Fratton Park with a single win to their name from nine games so far this season.

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That’s after Martin Allen guided the Bees to the Vanarama Conference title in May.

Allen’s side will proved a physical test of Pompey’s credentials.

But that’s nothing Stevens is particularly concerned about.

‘Every game is physical,’ he said.

‘I think it’s about what we do.

‘Morecambe, Luton were the same.

‘We just have to concentrate on ourselves. That should get us over the line.’

The Blues go into the game in fifth spot and with Cook believing the game will ‘define’ his side’s start.

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Three wins marked the opening of the campaign, but the Blues haven’t delivered back-to-back successes in the following six games.

Stevens feels there is more to come from his side – and putting consecutive successes together will put them firmly in the early-season contention.

He said: ‘If you look at the table we’re not looking too bad.

‘There’s a lot more to come, though.

‘We’re a new team so we’re just looking to click and get that run of games together.

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‘With a few back-to-back wins this season we’ll soon be at the top of the table.

‘It’s about getting the wins and a few scruffy draws.

‘That’s the results which will get us to the top of the table.’

Stevens admitted he hasn’t been looking at Pompey’s rivals in League Two so far this season.

He’s been concentrating on what his team have achieved.

The former Aston Villa man feels defensive strength has been a big plus on that front.

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Stevens said: ‘It’s hard to know who is going to be strong.

‘I’m not fussed about looking at other teams too much.

‘I’ve just stay focused on ourselves.

‘We’ve looked strong at the back.

‘You could see that from the start of the season against Dagenham.

‘Even against Accrington it was the case. That’s been a positive for us.’