Sunderland midfielder Josh Scowen previewed the clash with Pompey this weekend, the midfielder has had a good stint in the starting lineup and is feeling confident of keeping up the momentum we have behind us.
Josh Scowen said in preview of the Pompey clash, “The boys are positive, and our confidence is high at the minute. We look solid as a team and we’ve only conceded one goal and that was a penalty so that gives us the platform to improve and to attack and get the goals we need. The way we’ve pressed has been good and we can build from the front and get some good attacks. I’ve been playing the position which is best for me, I can get forward and get back when I’m needed too, get stuck into tackles and create a bit as well. I’m really enjoying my football at the moment, the formation we play suits me down to the ground. We keep creating chance and we have the strikers in the squad who we know can score goals at this level so if we do keep creating those chances, they’ll get into the positions and score some goals, and they’ll come good. Portsmouth will be a tough game and they’ll be up there come the end of the season, but I think the way we’ve played and the way we’ve pressed, if we stamp out and impose it on them I think we’re more than good enough to come away with three points. It’s a massive game, if we get three points it puts us in a better place than them so we’ll be raring to go and we’re more than capable of getting three points. It’s going to be really busy for us coming up and into the Christmas period so I think the whole squad will be used, we all want to play football games.”
Portsmouth Assistant Manager, Joe Gallen, also spoke ahead of the match this Saturday, “To go to Gillingham and play the way we did was very pleasing. Obviously winning was the priority, but a performance like that provides confidence, we’re now expecting a tough game at Sunderland, but belief is high, and we seem to be doing better away from home. It’s always a great opportunity for us to go there because they are one of the big clubs in the division, like us, they’re very well supported and – a bit like ourselves – are hoping not to be at this level for too much longer. It’s a privilege to be involved in matches like this and our players should be looking forward to the challenge of going there and trying to win. It’s a real disappointment a match of this magnitude has to take place behind closed doors. Sunderland are one of the biggest clubs outside the Premier League, and it’s a shame there will be no fans there to enjoy the occasion. We’ve missed the crowd at home, there’s no doubt about that – but it will be the same for everybody else.”
