Joey Barton's message to Fleetwood fans ahead of Portsmouth's trip to Highbury Stadium

The Cod Army currently sit eighth in the table on 51 points.

That’s two points and two places below the sixth-placed Blues, who occupy the final play-off spot at present.

But following victories over fellow promotion-contenders Doncaster Rovers, Wycombe and Peterborough in recent outings – plus draws against Bristol Rovers and Coventry adding to an already impressive season, hopes are high of a successful conclusion to this season.

SEE ALSO: Joey Barton insists Pompey rely on set-pieces

Barton certainly feels he is building a side capable of reaching the Championship for the first time in their history.

But in a rallying call to supporters, he’s asked them to assist the team in their goal.

The Fleetwood boss told blackpoolgazette.co.uk: ‘We need every person we possibly can to get behind this team because they are an incredible bunch of lads.

‘And I think with a little bit of time and development space they could become as exciting a team as has been witnessed by Fleetwood maybe since the Micky Mellon/Jamie Vardy era.

‘And that’s what we want to give them – great football, winning football to be proud of on a national scale.

‘But nothing is given out in February and we have to keep that one-game-at-a-time mindset.

‘Sometimes the fans have been frustrated with us because we’ve let fans’ favourites go and people who had an affinity with the club, but we had to (do that) to get to this.

‘We had to let those players go and play somewhere else, so we could get these personnel in and give the fans this sort of excitement.

‘Saturday was the loudest I’ve heard this stand, and we’re so grateful to them for coming out to support us in these conditions.

‘Without them what is football?’

Pompey’s trip to Highbury will be their second since the turn of the year, with the Blues also set to host the Cod Army at Fratton Park on Tuesday, March 10.

Back in January, Kenny Jackett’s side beat Fleetwood 2-1 in the third round of the FA Cup.

That day, 2,145 fans were in attendance, with 525 in the away end.

However, a bigger gate on this occasion is expected.

At present, the Blues have sold nearly 700 of their 1,109 ticket allocation for Saturday’s trip to the north west.

All seats have been snapped up, with only spots on the terrace remaining.