A new season and a new round of optimism and expectation at Fratton Park. It's the same every August - the question each year is 'how long will the hope last?'

Last season it lasted all season long but died in a desperate final batch of injury-time at Home Park. This time the hope - and in many quarters the expectation - will be that the play-offs can be avoided and a top three finish will secure promotion to League One.

On the face of it Paul Cook seems to have recruited well to replace departing suqad members and add strength where it is needed. The likes of Drew Talbot, Tom Davies, Carl Baker., Danny Rose, Milan Lalkovic, Curtis Main and Noel Hunt seem like players who have the talent to make a difference, to push Pompey that little bit further than last season's squad managed.

It's all very well saying that but until at last a few games are behind, we should not be too bold in predicting what Pompey might be capable of this season.

One thing recent seasons have shown is that a good start can aid - though not guarantee - a good season so three points at home to Carlisle, something Pompey have managed in each of the past two seasons, would be an excellent first step on the road.

It seems Cook is as excited as the average Pompey fan about the season ahead. He told the club website: 'No matter where you’re from or what team you support, the start of the season is always exciting. It’s been a long, tough summer — especially after what happened at Plymouth. But we’ve picked ourselves up and re-energised the squad. And the supporters have certainly played their part with the number of season ticket sales.

'Our fans never disappoint us. They’ve always felt an obligation to stand by their club and they do that continually. Now it’s about getting on with the season and I would just remind everyone that it’s a long campaign ahead. There will be highs and lows. We don’t know when they’ll be, but how we manage them is the most important thing. Our challenge is to do better than we did last season.'

Pompey are likely to field a number of their new signings, with Talbot, Davies, Rose, Baker, Main and Lalkovic all in with a good shout of starting.

Carlisle are still bossed by Keith Curle and after a mid-table finish last time, they will be eyeing up a play-off push this time. They lost 1-0 at Fratton just four months ago and came close to securing a draw.

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