Awford expects fans and players to rally round at Fratton
Friday, 4th Apr 2014 18:47 by pompey-fans.com staff

Andy Awford aims to allow his players to enjoy playing at Fratton Park - rather than fearing it - as he sends them into battle against Hartlepool.

The Blues are out to follow up the 2-1 win at Newport by completing back-to-back victories for the first time this season. If they can, it will be another big step towards League Two survival.

Awford told The News the fans could help put the end of this season into Fratton folklore - like famous past 'wall of noise' games like Stockport 98.

He said: ‘The fans have backed this football club in adversity since I have been around — and we’ve had plenty of adversity. No other club have been through the mill like ours.

‘When people talk about Stockport, I want them to talk about Hartlepool and Bristol Rovers and Plymouth in the same vein. The players need to come to the party in that respect and they will. They know what is expected of them, and if you put all that together it is almost unbearable for the other team out there.

‘That is what we have to try to create and that is what I am after. A wall of noise gives the opposition a bit of a jolt. If I was the Hartlepool manager or Bristol Rovers manager or Plymouth manager, you would make your players aware of it, of course you would.

‘But the crowd won’t turn tomorrow, they will be with us right until the 95th minute. And if we win after that as well, then they will come again the next game because in adversity that is what they do.

‘We need that support and I know we will get that support. We will make it electric and, hopefully, it will become an enjoyable experience for everybody. Some of our players have found it difficult at Fratton Park. My job is to make them enjoy it and embrace it and go with it — as long as they embrace it they will be fine.’