Clarke calls on Pompey to end away woes

The Blues visit Brisbane Road this afternoon eager to address a run of one win, one draw and three defeats from their opening five League Two fixtures on their travels.

Paul Cook’s side have been beaten on their previous two league outings away from Fratton Park at Blackpool and Accrington respectively.

It is all a far cry from Pompey’s impressive record on the road last term when they sported the fifth-best record at opposing grounds.

Central-defender Clarke, though, is not interested in the Blues’ past or indeed their opponents as he bids to help the visitors to a morale-boosting three-point haul this afternoon.

He said: ‘It doesn’t really matter who we’re up against.

‘We need to go out and stamp our authority on the game.

‘It’s all about us.

‘Every time we play at Fratton Park it’s great, but it’s quite obvious our away form needs to improve.

‘We need to go to Orient, put a performance in and get a result.

‘If we keep a clean sheet we draw 0-0 and get a point.

‘But, obviously, we are looking to go there to get all three.’

Clarke is expected to start for Pompey today in the middle of defence, alongside Christian Burgess.

That’s after the 20-year-old, who joined the Blues on a permanent deal in the summer, reclaimed his place in Cook’s starting XI for the 2-1 home defeat to Doncaster last weekend, before playing in the midweek 2-2 Checkatrade Trophy draw with Reading under-23s.

Clarke added: ‘I’ve got a couple of 90 minutes in and it’s good for my fitness.

‘The goal is to be playing week-in, week-out.’