Pompey do their homework on former striker

But John Akinde is very much a marked man in these parts.

Indeed, the Blues have done their homework on the in-form Barnet striker in a bid to avoid a repeat of their last encounter with the Bees.

Akinde netted the winner in a 1-0 defeat at the Hive back in February, delivering a stinging blow to Paul Cook’s side’s automatic-promotion aspirations.

And Pompey midfielder Danny Rose has revealed the hosts are not taking his goal threat lightly heading in to tomorrow’s League Two clash.

With 60 goals in 103 games for Barnet, the man who failed to fire for Guy Whittingham’s Blues in 2013 would love to add to his impressive account with a maiden Fratton Park effort.

Rose, though, believes Akinde will fall short in his quest to add to a four-goal tally for the season.

Rose said: ‘Barnet play to his strengths, which are that he is physically powerful and strong.

‘They get the ball to him quickly – he is their focal point and they have runners off him.

‘He is the same player now as he was at Portsmouth but sometimes it just doesn’t happen for you at one club for one reason or another.

‘His goalscoring record in the last two or three seasons is impressive.

‘He scored 30 goals in the Conference and 20-plus last season in League Two.

‘He has a few this season already and there is no hiding the fact he is their danger man.

‘But we have worked hard in training this week on ways to nullify that threat.

‘We have done our homework on him and them (Barnet) and we know how they are going to play.

‘And as long as we take care of the ball and work on our positional sense then we should nullify their threat.’

– JEFF MARSHMAN