Teenage Kicks: Will mindset change now we're in pole position?

Only last week I wrote about the need for Pompey to avoid a repeat of last season's follow up to the landmark Accrington victory.
Pompey boss Paul Cook. Picture: Joe PeplerPompey boss Paul Cook. Picture: Joe Pepler
Pompey boss Paul Cook. Picture: Joe Pepler

Despite the impressive performance against Morecambe, it was all forgotten by Saturday, when Pompey failed to produce a shot on target in a dismal defeat at the hands of Crewe.

And it was, in my opinion, a scarily similar scenario to the Newport defeat last season.

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Against a struggling side in front of a confident Fratton Park – Pompey just didn’t turn up.

It resulted in a huge amount of frustration at full-time.

Why can’t Pompey just do things the easy way?

Crewe had not won an away game in six months!

But the Railwaymen thoroughly deserved their win.

However, while Pompey need to remember the pain from that result, it was firmly put to one side with a comprehensive win at Crawley.

The 2-0 victory fired the Blues into third.

So can Pompey finally kick on and avoid those freak results which have become all too predictable?

The players are starting to refer to these latter games in interviews as cup finals.

I suppose you can’t argue with that analysis.

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It’s a big ask but to guarantee a top-three spot, I reckon Pompey need to win eight of their remaining 11 games, including today’s visit to Colchester.

Not including any draws, those eight wins would give the Blues 83 points.

Carlisle United and Plymouth Argyle are stuttering.

However, the form of Luton Town and Stevenage suggests the biggest threat for those automatic promotion spots may come from teams currently occupying play-off positions.

Especially, when you consider Luton have a game in hand.

However, now we find ourselves in a top-three spot, I think we could see a change in mindset.

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The squad is littered with players who have already achieved promotion from this division.

It is time to make that experience count.

Danny Rose won League Two last season, while Gary Roberts celebrated the title a few years back in a Chesterfield side led by Paul Cook and including Eoin Doyle.

Despite all the ‘typical Pompey’ that comes with the club, you can’t help but feel the Blues are in pole position to go up.

• Ben Sturt, an 18-year-old Fratton End season-ticket holder, writes a column in the Sports Mail every Sunday.