Bowyer: Vital we build on Carlisle win

The Seasiders make the 560-mile round trip to Fratton Park in the knowledge that a win will put them right back in contention for a play-off spot come the end of the season.

Their confidence coming into the game will be sky-high following Saturday’s 4-1 thrashing of fellow high-flyers Carlisle United at Brunton Park, and Bowyer has called on his troops to dig deep and put in a similar display down on the South Coast.

The Pool boss said: “We came into the game (at Carlisle) with a lot of confidence on the back of being four unbeaten as well and we’ve gone on to put in a wonderful display.

“It’s wrong of me to single anybody out because it was a massive team performance. I was pleased with the manner that we won, the way that we played.

“We’ve got some momentum going now and we’ve got a good mentality going. We need to make sure that we continue that.

“We’re now five games unbeaten and they’re the sort of statistics we keep using.”

One of those players to get his name on the scoresheet against Carlisle was forward Nathan Delfouneso, who capped off a fine individual display to net Blackpool’s fourth and final goal of the game.

The forward, now in his fourth spell with the club, ended the game in an unfamiliar midfield role following injuries to Neil Danns and Brad Potts.

Bowyer heaped praise on the 26-year-old, whose adaptability will be key in the final months of the season according to the Pool boss.

He added: “I don’t like singling any people out because it’s a team effort but we got stretched with losing Neil Danns and then when Pottsy came off with a touch of cramp we had to put Delfouneso in midfield.

“He adapted ever so well and did a job for the team.

“He then got a goal which was a great team goal. Kyle Vassell could have quite easily shot himself but he set Nathan up and it’s a great finish.

“We had to play him there the other week in a practice match so we knew that we had something up our sleeve.

“It does leave us a bit bare there but you’ve seen that he’s more than capable of doing it. I was delighted for him and with his goal at the end.

“People talk about squad sizes and we haven’t got the biggest of squads. It’s important that you have players that can adjust and play in different positions.”

Pool are likely to be without Danns for tonight’s game but Potts is battling to be in contention.

Andy Taylor is another who is likely to miss out with a collarbone injury sustained towards the end of Pool’s recent goalless draw against Crawley Town.

Bowyer added: “It’s a hamstring injury for Neil Danns and he’s just told me at 34 years of age that he’s never had one.

“That just shows you the bit of luck that you need at times that we don’t seem to have at the minute in certain positions.

“Pottsy was just cramp because he’s been missing and we’ve had to nurse him through.”

Paul Cook’s Pompey side are currently sixth in the League Two table, seven points ahead of Bowyer’s men.