The secret weapon powering Portsmouth to success in the absence of supporters

And the Blues head coach believes the backing from a re-energised squad is playing its part in the flying start to his Fratton tenure.

Cowley’s men made it three wins out of three with a 2-1 win over Rochdale on Saturday at Fratton Park.

A characteristic of the wins so far has been the noise created from the Pompey contingent in the stands.

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John Marquis and Ellis Harrison, in particular, have led the way from the South Stand along with the rest of the squad who aren’t in the starting XI.

Cowley explained that’s no coincidence and helps to create the impetus and renewed sense of unity which is working for Pompey.

He said: ‘We don’t have the Fratton End, so we have to create our own energy and our own atmosphere, so the lads are waving their pom poms, it’s absolutely deliberate.’

Cowley stated his approach of using the players’ support is not a new one, and stretches back to when he was emerging in management at non-league Concord Rangers.

The 42-year-old employed a similar tactic with little in the way of support for the ninth-tier side when he arrived at the club.

Cowley added: ‘When we were at Concord Rangers we started with 60 supporters and ended with maybe 400-500.

‘We didn’t always have much atmosphere, so we used the dugouts to create our own atmosphere.

‘We used to say we had to sing for ourselves.

‘There was a song, You are my Concord, and we used to sing it in the changing room.

‘It was our way of saying all these other big clubs have big support and we have none, but we’ll sing for ourselves.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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