Davies purring at Pompey style

The central defender was a summer recruit from Accrington Stanley, yet had missed the last four pre-season fixtures.

A back spasm collected in training while on tour in Ireland sidelined the 24-year-old.

Yet Davies was back in action on Saturday and entered the field against Bournemouth as a 78th-minute substitute for Jack Whatmough.

It was the opportunity to make his first appearance at Fratton Park as a home player as Cook’s side drew 3-3 in a thoroughly-entertaining fixture.

Certainly the 24-year-old enjoyed watching the excellent football on offer from both sides in the sweltering conditions.

And he’s hoping for more of the same from the Blues during the League Two campaign ahead.

He said: ‘The lads who started did well and set a good base for everyone who came on and we did really well to match them.

‘There are going to be a lot of good teams in League Two this season so it was good practice.

‘I was finding myself stopping and watching it at times, which is probably not the best thing to do!

‘But you do get carried away because we play a good style and a good quality of football and it was nice to watch and nice to be part of.

‘That style has come from the gaffer and the staff, that is the way they want us to play, we have got some good ball players in the final third of the pitch and you saw on Saturday they are good at what they do.

‘It does bode well for attractive football.

‘We must keep it going and hopefully will be able to win games that way.

‘The playing surface was superb, obviously it got a bit sticky because of the heat but it is a really good pitch.

‘It does allow you to play the kind of football we want so it is going to be a good place to play.’

Davies’ previous Pompey outing was as substitute in the opening pre-season fixture at Sligo Rovers.

He played the full second-half at the centre of defence as Cook’s men let slip a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3.

He subsequently missed encounters with Bohemians, the Hawks, Sutton United and Salisbury.

Not that he is a stranger to Fratton Park having played there twice last season with Accrington.

They consisted of a goalless draw in league action in September, while there was an FA Cup defeat in December.

Davies also featured in the 3-1 Crown Ground loss to the Blues in March, a match which must rank as one of Pompey’s best displays under Cook.

But now he’s had the opportunity to represent the Fratton faithful.

He added: ‘I drew one and lost one at Fratton Park with Accrington last season, it’s nice to have the crowd on side now and I am looking forward to the season.’