Paul Cook warmed up for Newport County's visit to Fratton Park by praising the players who have shared the goals around this season.
He reiterated his view that you don't need a prolific scorer if you have plenty of forwards and others weighing in with their share.
Kal Naismith is top scorer with nine goals but the Blues have a number of players who have scored seven or eight.
Pompey remain one of the division's top-scoring teams and hit 10 in three games before their blank day at Stevenage last weekend.
Cook told The News: 'Do you think every other team has to put up with defences like we do? They don’t. So it is always going to be a little harder for us to score goals.
‘Having said that, only three teams are above us in terms of goals scored. We haven’t got a 20-goal-a-season man but have plenty of players who can score goals, which is important. You only have to look at the last home game against Grimsby to see the assets we have on the pitch — and I am comfortable with that.
‘People often ask where the goals are going to come from, but when we play well everything looks easy. When teams come and get everyone behind the ball, that’s when it is harder than everyone thinks.
‘I have never, ever felt we had to find a 20-goal-a-season striker. ‘There are goals from everywhere in this team, without shadow of a doubt.’
Curtis Main is back in training to add to Pompey's forward options but he is unlikely to be rushed back into the matchday squad too soon. Meanwhile defender Aaron Simpson, who arrived on loan from Wolves on transfer deadline day, has left Fratton after failing to make an impression.
| Advertisement |
|
|
Click here to sign up for an account and reserve your username! You can then post on the Forum and add your comments to articles