START WINNING
Daniels issues rallying cry after another promotion setback
CHARLIE DANIELS delivered the Pompey rallying cry and roared: Time to look at ourselves.
The Blues have been left with the prospect of a third straight League One play-off campaign following another devastating result.
Saturday’s dismal 1-0 loss at home to Blackpool represented back-to-back defeats – and a fourth in their last seven fixtures.
Kenny Jackett’s men are suddenly seven points adrift of the two automatic promotion spots.
Next they travel to eighthplaced Oxford United tomorrow evening.
And Daniels, who won two promotions with Bournemouth, told The News: ‘This team is definitely capable of promotion.
‘Like any promoted team, you just need to go on a run of games – and hopefully we can start that Tuesday.
‘There’s no reason why not, but first and foremost we need to win. If we don’t win, there’s no chance of us getting back to the Championship.
‘We need to look at ourselves, we need to perform and we need to start picking up points.
‘Look at the size of this club, look at where it’s been, look at its history, everything points towards being back in the Championship. That’s our goal and it’ll always be our goal, no matter what season it is.
‘I see encouraging signs. ‘I would be worried if we didn’t have players willing to fight, willing to run, but everyone is honest, everyone wants promotion, everyone wants to win – and for me that’s reassuring.
‘Why can’t we start winning again? That’s our aim going into every game, so we have to go into Tuesday and only think about winning.
‘We’re all in this together, we need a whole squad. It’s just not 11 players, everyone must buy into it.
‘Be prepared and ready to step up when asked.’
Pompey have taken seven points from the last 21 available in League One. During that worrying run they’ve kept one clean sheet and failed to net in three matches.
But there are 18 games to regain a foothold in the promotion race.
Daniels added: ‘Let’s start building a bit of momentum, that breeds confidence – and if players are confident, that breeds wins.
‘When teams go on a couple of losses it puts some people down, but in this league there’s so many games that you can’t get too high and can’t get too low.
‘You dust yourself off, thinking about your performance and then start afresh.
‘Once the confidence comes and everyone is on top form, it just springs, points after points.’