Fixture list still huge challenge, says coach

HEAD COACH Danny Cowley shrugged off Pompey’s encouraging fixture list and insisted – we’ve got a huge challenge.

The Blues face six of League One’s bottom seven in their remaining 10 matches.

In addition, 12th-placed MK Dons are the highest-ranking club they are scheduled to meet from now until the season’s end.

It represents a heartening run-in on paper for a Pompey side which are presently fifth.

However, Cowley is wary of facing struggling sides during a period when he believes they are at their most dangerous.

He told The News: ‘We have some tough remaining games which we are really looking forward to.

‘We are playing six of the bottom seven. The time of the season when the teams at the bottom win the most is normally March and April – that is from my experiences.

‘You always see really highly-motivated teams who are fighting relegation and, as a consequence of that, you often find that’s when they pick the most points up.

‘Ultimately for us, take each game at its merit, be respectful of the opponent, know the opponent’s strengths.’

Pompey entertain bottom club Rochdale on Good Friday, followed by a trip to struggling Wigan on Bank Holiday Monday.

Of others in the relegation zone, there’s also Bristol Rovers (April 24) and AFC Wimbledon (May 1).

Cowley added: ‘League

One is such a tough league in respect of there is very little between all the teams.

‘I genuinely don’t see the difference between any game at this level. Every game brings its challenges.

‘What I do know is my ambition for this group is to get them playing consistently well and performing consistently well, so we can win every football match.’