Portsmouth's rivals Rotherham, Sunderland and Ipswich rated as Danny Cowley's League One standouts - and he admires Bolton manager's 'best in division' boast
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But Blues head coach Danny Cowley has offered an insight into who he believes are the most-feared sides in the third tier so far this term.
Bullish Evatt, who guided Bolton to League Two promotion last term, labelled his troops the third-tier’s best earlier this season.
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Hide AdPompey are set to find out just how good they are when the Trotters visit Fratton Park on Saturday.
In the meantime, Cowley has revealed his stand-outs so far, with fifth-placed Rotherham, Sunderland - in fourth - and much-fancied Ipswich all impressing.
The Blues head coach said: ‘I thought Rotherham were powerful, they had all the tools needed to be a very successful League One team.
‘I thought Sunderland were good in the lead up, but we were obviously able to perform really well on the day (against them).
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Hide Ad‘All the things that hadn’t been going our way went our way in that game.


‘Certainly, Sunderland in the lead up (were the stand-out team), but not on the day.
‘Ipswich have got some top players as well, that goes without saying.’
Pompey have made a slow start to their League One campaign and currently sit 16th having won just four of their opening 14 fixtures.
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Hide AdCowley admired the confidence of Bolton counterpart Evatt when self-assessing his side.


But the Blues boss said it would not be a stance he'd adopt when talking about one of his teams.
Cowley said: ‘It’s great when a manager has that confidence in his team.
‘Certainly for Ian, he’s had two promotions in two seasons, so he won’t be short of belief in himself.
‘It wouldn’t be what I chose to say, personally, but it’s great that he’s got that belief in his players and good luck to them.’
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