The Portsmouth quality Barnsley boss Gerhard Struber is wary of

The Blues welcome the Tykes to Fratton Park in the FA Cup fourth round tomorrow (3pm).

Kenny Jackett’s troops start as underdogs against their Championship visitors, although only nine places separate the two sides in the Football League standings.

Barnsley travel to the south coast against the backdrop of 3-0 loss to Preston on Tuesday – a performance Struber lambasted the worst of his reign since taking charge in November.

The Oakwell chief isn’t underestimating Pompey and knows the likes of Ronan Curtis, Marcus Harness and Ellis Harrison can hurt his side.

But he’s backing the Tykes to book their spot in the next stage of the Cup.

Struber told his club’s website: ‘I trust my boys and it’s a situation where we grow up a young team; we stay in the process but took one step back.

‘This was the situation in our last game and, hopefully, on Saturday we take two steps forward.

‘We are not happy with the last game but we stay cool, work strong and clear in our plan for the next time and I’m very hopeful that we can create the same performances like the games before.”

‘Barnsley, the club, has a big history in the FA Cup and we are looking forward to the game on Saturday.

‘We hope we can create a very good performance and, in the end, our clear aim is that we get in the next round.

‘We know we need a top performance and every single player on his limit, then it’s very difficult to Portsmouth.

‘They have a very good atmosphere in their stadium at home, when they’re on the ball they have a good transition in the offense.

‘They’re a very good team in League One and we’re a good team in the Championship, and we’re the favourites and we must show that we’re the favourites.’