Memories of trailing 3-0 to Fleetwood last season will be fresh in the mind when Pompey face the Cod Army again on Saturday.

The Blues were blown away by Fleetwood in the first half last term but recovered to draw 3-3.

This weekend it's a recovery of a different kind on Pompey's mind as they bid to fight back from a league defeat for the first time in 2022-23.

After the 3-2 loss at Ipswich last weekend, and midweek wins for the Tractor Boys and Plymouth ahead of them in the table, there's perhaps a little more pressure on Danny Cowley's team as they try to keep pace with the leaders in a game in which most will have them down as firm favourites.

Midfielder Joe Morrell - pushing for another start despite the return to fitness of Tom Lowery - says it will not be easy against the visitors from the north west.

He told the club website: 'It’s a tough test and we saw that last season when we were 3-0 down in the first half, so you can’t underestimate anyone.

'I think we’re now in a better place to handle situations like these and coming off a setback last week, hopefully that can make us even more dangerous.'

Morrell is impressed by the increased depth of the Pompey squad compared to last season's ranks. He added: 'The squad here is strong — not just in terms of quality, but also personality and experience. It’s fantastic to be a part of that.

'We’ve got all the ingredients needed for a really good team and we’ve got them in abundance this season. There are a few injuries at the moment, but to have them and still be as strong as we are is a great thing for us.

'We have a group of senior players who have competed at a higher level and the professionalism, mentality and intensity they bring has taken us to a new level. Speak to anyone who’s got promoted — which is the intention here — and they’ll tell you personality is a massive thing, which people on the outside perhaps don’t see.

'It’s something that I feel was a bit lacking when I first came here, but we’ve turned a corner in that sense. You walk out the tunnel before the game and look who’s in front and behind you — you’re definitely happier this season, despite us having some fantastic players before.

'We know that if times get tough then the boys have got your back and you will have their back, which is a massive thing in sport.'

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