Matt Clarke: What Pompey need to do to clinch promotion

The cultured centre-back insists a play-off spot at least is the Blues' aim '“ and cutting down the number of defeats they suffer will be key.

Kenny Jackett's troops finished eighth in their first campaign back in League One last term.

That represented a decent effort, with consolidation in the third tier the target at the beginning.

Their promotion challenge only came to an end after losing 1-0 at Bury in the penultimate fixture of the campaign.

Overall, Jackett's men lost 20 matches in total, with their longest unbeaten streak in the league coming to just three games.

Clarke knows that's a statistic that must significantly improve this term.

And he reckons reaching double figures without a reverse will put Pompey in a strong position to fulfil their Championship aspirations.

'˜We finished where we deserved to finish last season,' Clarke said.

'We weren't at the heights to get into the play-offs and get promoted. But hopefully this season, with new additions, more experience and another year understanding the gaffer's way of playing, then this year will be different.

'Last season finishing in the top 10 was what people said would be a good season. But this season we're not going to make any bones about it '“ we want to be in the play-offs.

'We'll win as many games as we can and hopefully lose fewer games than last year. That was probably where we fell short last season.

'We lost a lot of games and want to be more solid and resolute. We want to go 10-15 games unbeaten '“ that's the aim.' 

With Wigan and Blackburn no longer in League One '“ and with relegated Sunderland not splashing the cash '“ some sections of the Fratton faithful reckon the division could be easier to get out of this time around.

But Clarke has refused to buy into that theory.

The ex-Ipswich man said: 'You can never look at the league and say we have a chance or we don't have a chance. All you have got to do is beat what teams are put in front of you.

'˜All we can dictate is our own performances on a Saturday and a Tuesday.'