Pompey boss: Rivals are looking over their shoulders

The Blues chalked up a second consecutive 2-0 success at Fratton Park following victory over Blackpool last night.

It lifted them up to fifth in the League Two table, still four points short of the automatic promotion spots with a game in hand.

The same evening saw the top two of Doncaster and Plymouth fall to defeat.

In addition, Exeter drew and Wycombe lost as the promotion race continues to lurch from one potential outcome to another.

And, following back-to-back wins, Cook believes Pompey have delivered a message to their fellow promotion contenders.

He said: ‘We have 51 points and are doing great.

‘All the teams above us now look for our result and when they see us coming they will be frightened.

‘We have got to make sure we don’t disappoint them.

‘Performances like last night are always in us and people forget. If you go back to Grimsby away we were excellent, we also beat Luton at home 1-0.

‘Our record over the last 11 games is six wins and two draws, but every week it feels like a crisis, you can’t have the club like that.

‘All of our players were immense against Blackpool, I wouldn’t like to single one out.

‘David Forde not so long ago had a bit of criticism, yet he has 13 clean sheets now.

‘Did Blackpool create a clear-cut chance? I don’t think they did, we defended so well.

‘We have 16 games to go – we’re doing alright.’

Pompey travel to Barnet on Saturday as they bid to make it three successive victories.

The Bees, who are 11th in the table, last night won at Morecambe courtesy of a Tom Champion goal.

– NEIL ALLEN