BBM’s boys prepared for Portsmouth test

ROCHDALE welcome Portsmouth to the Crown Oil Arena this afternoon as Brian Barry-Murphy’s men take on a side who have yet to fulfil their pre-season billing.

Pompey were tipped to be among the frontrunners in the division before the campaign kicked off but head into the clash 11th in League One, just two points ahead of Dale – though they do have three games in hand on BBM’s men.

The Dale chief spoke highly of Pompey and manager Kenny Jackett – but insisted all his focus was getting the best out of his own squad rather than focusing too much on Portsmouth’s.

“They have a top class squad and a top manager,” said BBM.

“They are obviously a team who would have been expected to be right up there from the very start, but I have tried very consciously away from saying everyone we play is a fantastic team and how dangerous they are because I just want to focus on our own squad and the players that we’ve got. We do work on the opposition and specific things we want to implement against them but it’s very much a case of respecting them but focusing on our own game plans. In terms of the squad at the minute it’s a case of ‘who’s available?’ and figuring it out from there. The proximity of the games, Saturday to Tuesday and even Sunday to Tuesday last week, means all the preparation work was done off the pitch and the lads are learning different way of understanding what we need on a daily basis and their attitude to learning those tactical and technical aspects off the pitch has been exceptional, they have been willing students.

“Having Rhys and Luke back will give everyone a lift because they are key members of our squad.”