City’s new forward partnership of Darius Vassell and Andrew Cole have gelled to good effect and have posed real problems to opposition defences so far this season, and both have got on the score sheet once already.
Overall in the last two games, although City have not had as many chances as their opponents, it has been Pearce’s men who have had a more clinical approach close to goal and despite being unhappy with the team performance at Sunderland, the manager is delighted with the way chances have been taken.
“I think we’ve shown a cutting edge about our play on the break, we might get more chances away than we do at home. The way we’ve played in these away games, with Vass’s pace and Coley’s cleverness, just dropping off of him, we will create chances.
“On our travels, in the last two games, we have created enough chances and scored four goals. We’ve had good chances as well apart from the four we put away, so it’s important that we do that.”
Portsmouth have not won away from home since Boxing Day, and having only taken one point from the start of this season their approach may be sit back and absorb City’s attacks, so the manager will be telling his team to up the ante tomorrow.
“We know it’s going to be more difficult at home. People will come and sit off us a bit and look to shut up shop, so it’s important that we’re cute and break things open.
“It’ll be a tough game, they all are but our boys should be prepared for it.”
