Portsmouth boss Danny Cowley has said he believes Town are the best team in League One ahead of the Blues’ visit to Fratton Park this evening.

Pompey go into the game without a win in seven and in 11th in League One, while Town are second, two points behind leaders Plymouth.

“For me, they’re the best team in the division,” Cowley told the Portsmouth News. “I’ve seen enough of this league to be able to say that.

“They have really good players, they’ve got a clear way of playing, a clear system which is quite adaptable and they’re really well coached. As a consequence, they’re in a really good position to get promoted.

“For us, I think it’s a great game due to the run we’re on. In this tough moment it’s actually the very best game and one we’re going to attack.

“We want to win every game, always. We’re very respectful of Ipswich as a team. Their recruitment has been really aggressive but really intelligent as well.

“Not only have they been able to improve but been able to weaken their opponents in the process. It’s no surprise they’ve been able to find that high level of consistency. We will have to be at our very best to beat them.”

Criticism of Cowley is mounting given their recent run and pre-season hopes that Pompey might have been among Town's rivals at the top of the division, which the former Lincoln, Braintree and Huddersfield boss says he gets but hopes supporters leave those frustrations behind this evening.

“This is a brilliant football club and as a club we’re so lucky to have so many people that this club means so much to,” he added.

“When the team doesn’t do well then people get disappointed and frustrated and even angry.

“We understand that, these are emotions we have inside the club. We need them with us. Any frustration, any disappointment and any anger they’re feeling for the team, if they can leave it at the gate and get right behind the group then I know it will really help us.”

Photo: TWTD

itsonlyme added 15:46 - Dec 29 Hopefully this is the last time he mentions us as he has a fixation about what we do! Hate the West Ham supporting t**t.
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Saxonblue74 added 15:50 - Dec 29 Let's hope they do come out and attack. Oxford did that, tried to go toe-to-toe with their superior opposition and it didn't end well for them! There's a reason why teams shut up shop at PR, and there's a reason why our away record is better than our home record. Cowley will be desperate for a win to ease the pressure, can't see us obliging!
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Suffolkboy added 16:15 - Dec 29 Form is temporary , class is permanent - so my seriously good sporting and Golfing pals tell me ! Go for it Town ; make it tell ! COYB
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Bazza8564 added 16:28 - Dec 29 Cowley is a clever man, hes clever at winding people up and he knows it, but under the surface of what he says is always a lot of truth. "Not only have they been able to improve but been able to weaken their opponents in the process". Hmm, so is he talking about us buying Harness from them, or something else 😂😂. Maybe the whispers we've been hearing about purchasing from League one rivals in January are more than rumors......

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barrystedmunds added 16:54 - Dec 29 Its another example of what KMcK alluded to a few weeks back: managers lording us up as part of their physiological mind games. Been there, seen that, boring now!
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ArnieM added 17:34 - Dec 29 “ aggressive recruitment”…. What's he banging on about? We identify a player, approach players club or player , make an offer , gets accepted and we talk to player ( agent). What's aggressive about that. I do think Cowley tries make something out of nothing all the time. Anyone would think he's got a chip in his shoulder about being turned down in a job applicatIon for the Town job or something?

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Runner added 18:25 - Dec 29 It may be we have had a good offer for one of his players & they are on the way to us next week!!!???
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WhoisJimmyJuan added 18:29 - Dec 29 Arbie M: I think that's EXACTLY what this is about. I think he's probably always fancied the Town job. Jealousy and frustration are oozing through his words.
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terryf added 18:41 - Dec 29 Probably reading more into his comments guys than is actually there. Not sure Cowley was being disrespectful but maybe geeing up his own players. Aggressive transfer policy is open to debate but could be the number of signings that we have made in two windows. At the end of the day its about getting the right people in and then recognising their strengths. Cook couldn't manage it but McKenna has and Cowley has acknowledged that we now have a clear identity. Wouldn't say no to Dane Scarlett being in squad in January though, but would be happier with Morgan Whittaker and another midfielder and number 10 or is that being too greedy or aggressive!!

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itfcserbia added 18:42 - Dec 29 My god this bloke just cannot shut up. What oppoments did we weaken with our recruitment? Such a jelaous comment. If he's referring to Harness as it sounds like we gave them Piggott in exchange. He called him "his Harry Kane" a couple of months ago. As saxonblue said I really do hope they come out and attack. But more probably they will come out and lay around in agonizing pain and waste time with every throw in and goalkick.

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Nomore4 added 18:44 - Dec 29 Runner can't see any Pompey player that would interest us. We've already taken the best they had. Another must win for Town.
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Runner added 20:00 - Dec 29 Nomore4, Scarlett? He is not in the starting 11.
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