Ryan Williams: Inspirational Portsmouth fans raise our game 10-15 per cent - and it showed against Peterborough

And for Ryan Williams, it raised the players’ performance levels by ‘10-15 per cent’.

Perhaps that explains why Pompey conjured up their best display of the season so far, impressively dispatching promotion rivals Peterborough 2-0.

Those 2,000 Fratton faithful present, including 900 in the Fratton end, were treated to an outstanding showing from Kenny Jackett’s men, who rose into fourth spot as a consequence.

And Williams, now in his second spell with the Blues, acknowledged the supporters’ ability to inspire.

He told The News: ‘100 million per cent it is better having fans back in.

‘On Saturday it was a case of when everyone was coming out, there were big smiles on our faces.

‘I’m not saying they didn’t before, but it’s such an anti-climax.

‘You get ready in the changing room and when you come out there’s no-one here, it’s silent. You can hear your own voice.

‘It’s not something you associate at this ground, obviously you come out and there’s always a cheer.

‘It was really, really enjoyable on Saturday, much better with fans. Let’s just hope, fingers crossed, that it doesn’t go back to lockdown.

‘Having them there gives you an extra 10-15 per cent because at the end of the game, when you are running low on energy, you hear people shouting “Come on”. It makes you want to give more.

‘I’ve mentioned to Marcus (Harness) about when he scored a hat-trick at Burton. Normally he would have had the whole other end cheering, but no-one was there.

‘It was just a few people clapping – I felt sorry for him. Hopefully he can get more goals with fans here.’

Both Pompey’s goals arrived in the second half, netted by Jack Whatmough and Tom Naylor.

They capped a dominant performance from the players, who revelled in having a semblance of the Fratton atmosphere return.

And noticeably both goals were celebrated by the team heading to corners of the ground where fans were located.

Williams added: ‘When we run onto the pitch you can see the excitement in fans’ faces. When they are there, we as a group go over and celebrate them.

‘That’s what happened on Saturday. It’s not one person celebrating – everyone is over there because everyone wants to do well.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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