Dunne Looks To Pompey

Following last weekend’s important three points at home to Walsall, U’s boss Joe Dunne says that the key to the U’s pushing on now in the remainder of the season is to continue limiting opposition chanes and for the squad to continue to settle.

It’s been a hectic month for the Irishman in the transfer window with numerous arrivals and departures, but he insists that the squad is now shaping up to how he would like it to be.

Speaking to BBC Essex ahead of tomorrow’s game with Portsmouth, he suggests that the arrival of Jack Compton and George Porter on the wings provides attacking intent to take to teams.

‘I feel confident with the structure of the squad now,’ he said. ‘We have attack-minded players, such as George Porter who has had more time with the squad and you saw his impact when he came on last Saturday; he’s ready.

‘Jabo [Ibehre] is now ready, Freddie Sears is ready and his energy at the moment is good. Jack Comption is probably the only one trying to catch up now, so we’re confident with the group no matter what situation we are in.’

Performances haven’t been too far away from picking up results for the U’s, with most of the defeats in the recent poor spells coming from just the odd goal.

That has ensured that the confidence has never completely disappeared, and Dunne believes that this is something that will now go on to help his side.

He continued: ‘I’ve always said I believe the performances are there and minimising basic errors will get us a win.

‘Most of the stats about crosses and final thirds add up for us, it was the simple shots on target going in for the opposition that let us down, and we limited Walsall.

‘The belief has always been there but it was really strong last week so we need to keep that; when the first goal went in everybody seemed to visibly have a massive weight lifted from them.’

Regardless of the U’s run of form, with three points from the last thirty available, times persist in looking dire and bleak for tomorrow’s hosts, Portsmouth.

The Fratton Park club have suffered off-the-field from numerous problems, financial crises and administration, with a ten points dedution still to be enforced.

On-the-field things haven’t been much better with Pompey second bottom, without a win in fifteen and having lost 3-1 at home to basement side Hartlepool last weekend.

The U’s boss says he admires those who continue to strive for the south-coast club, though.

‘Their position isn’t necessarily their fault,’ he suggested. ‘But they run around and they keep having a go, and I admire them all for that.

‘The players prepare for the game never knowing what team may be put out, and it must be very hard to not even know if the club will remain in existance the next day, but they had over 10,500 in attendance the other night.

‘There will be a lot of noise, but we’ll be focused, believe in ourselves and go there to win the game.’


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