Mowbray demands 'character' for trip to Pompey

Tony Mowbray admitted his Blackburn Rovers side will need to show character for their trip to Fratton Park tonight.
Blackburn Rovers manager Tony Mowbray. Picture: PABlackburn Rovers manager Tony Mowbray. Picture: PA
Blackburn Rovers manager Tony Mowbray. Picture: PA

The Lancashire outfit travel to Pompey, who sit eighth in the League One table, looking to kick-start their automatic promotion push.

Only one win in four has seen them drop to third in the table, with Shrewsbury now leaders Wigan's closest challengers in second place.

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But the Rovers boss knows his side will need to rise to the occasion if they are to avoid a third league game without a win for the first time this season.

He's concerned how a packed, midweek match under the lights at PO4 could affect his side.

And he's called on his players to step up to the plate to help silence the Fratton faithful.

Speaking to rovers.co.uk, Mowbray said: 'A trip to Portsmouth is tough for anyone.

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'They live it every week, they often have a long way to travel and it does impact on your week.

'It's good that our game against Bury is now on the following Monday, because the team won't be returning home until 3 or 4 in the morning.

'Let's just keep going. Portsmouth will be a tough game, the trip is tough and so is the fixture.

'It's a footballing city and the fans will be right on top of the pitch, so you always need big characters to get a result at Portsmouth.'

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Kenny Jackett's side go into the game with the fifth-best home record in League One, with 30 points from their 16 matches on their own turf to date this season.

Rovers have accumulated 28 points from 15 matches on the road this term.