Kyle Bennett says Pompey have the ability to put their Accrington defeat behind them and get the better of Barnet at Fratton Park.

The winger, who was restored to the starting line-up last Saturday, reckons the Bees will bring a physical approach similar to the one that proved too much for them at the Crown Ground - and at The Hive last February.

Pompey head into the match in fifth place, four points off top spot. Barnet have had a decent start and are 10th as they head to the south coast.

Bennett told The News the players were keen to banish the memory of the 1-0 reverse at Accrington.

He told the paper: ‘The manager knew it would be a fine margin (at Accrington). Last season we rolled them over, but they were geared up and we came up short.

‘We needed more shots on goal, even if they did defend well. But we need to put defences under more pressure. We need to get on the training field and put this right.

‘We just have to go on now and prepare correctly for the game. It’s rare you see a team go unbeaten for a long period. We know we are going to lose some games. It’s about the manner in which you lose — and last weekend wasn’t one where the manner in which we lost was the correct one.’

One player who won't be in the squad to face Barnet is Ben Tollitt - he has been loaned to National League Tranmere.

Blues fans wait to see who will get the nod up front - Michael Smith played at Accrington but Conor Chaplin is pressing for a start and Curtis Main may be fit again after the head injury that forced him off in the win over Wycombe a fortnight ago.

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