A different way: New Blues managerial duo quick to make a mark
Cowley brothers construct winning game plan in just 24 hours after taking the reins at Fratton Park. NEIL ALLEN reports...
APRE-MATCH meal at the Village Hotel, closing down instructions, freedom on the ball and setting traps.
How Danny and Nicky Cowley implemented a match-winning game plan over Ipswich in just 24 hours at Fratton Park.
James Bolton has lifted the lid on the tactical and preparational revamp which reaped a 2-1 success on Saturday.
Pompey head coach Cowley was restricted to just one training session with his new players after replacing Kenny Jackett on Friday.
The outcome was the Blues’ first win in seven matches – and climbing to seventh in League One.
Bolton told The News: ‘They’ve not had long with us, but we’ve worked at things, little details.
‘They came in Friday, we had a couple of meetings, and then they did the training session and it was good.
‘We’ve been working on the basics of closing down. We had a bit of a plan on how we closed down, when we closed down.
‘To be honest, we were expecting Ipswich to play a bit more football, to play out from the back, and we were going to set traps. Although I don’t think they played too much football.
‘We were also given freedom to get on the ball.
‘One thing the gaffer said was to look forward to making mistakes, then look forward to winning it back and getting straight back on it.
‘It’s a different way of doing things, just freshening things up. We had a bit of a plan and it worked.
‘Hopefully it’s exciting times for everyone.’
Another change involved the first-team squad congregating at the Village Hotel on Saturday morning.
Rather than players heading straight to Fratton Park, they were instructed to meet up at the Cosham hotel for a pre-match meal and team meeting.
From there, they effectively drove in convoy to Pompey’s ground for the key League One match against play-off rivals Ipswich.
Bolton added: ‘We met at the Village Hotel, which gave us a chance to be with the gaffer a bit more.
‘It was a pre-match meal and a meeting, spending a bit more time with the gaffer, and then he explained the game plan and put on a presentation.
‘Although I think us meeting at the Village Hotel was happening anyway, Joe Gallen had organised it.’
■ THE impact of Ben Close and Michael Jacobs off the bench played a huge part in ensuring Danny Cowley started life as Pompey boss with a victory.
That was the verdict of pundit Ali Maxwell, speaking on highlights programme EFL On Quest.
‘It couldn’t have gone any better, winning after conceding the opening goal for the first time since April 2019,’ said Maxwell.
‘Marcus Harness, with the winning goal, was one of a number of players at the top end of the pitch who looked energised and told to press from the front. They did it really well.
‘The subs of Close and Jacobs made a big difference for Danny Cowley.
‘What I liked most about it was, right at the end, they didn’t sit back and invite pressure.
‘They spent basically the whole of stoppage-time in Ipswich’s half and that’s what Pompey fans wanted to see.’
‘They’ve not had long with us, but we’ve worked at little details.’
James Bolton