Cook revels in perfect Pompey scenario
The Blues revel going head-to-head with attacking, progressive sides keen on playing football.
Last night they encountered Luton, who neatly fit into such a category.
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Hide AdThe outcome was a 3-1 victory to Pompey as they turned on one of their most impressive performances of the season.
Recovering from the setback of falling behind to Danny Hylton’s seventh-minute goal, they registered through Michael Smith, Gareth Evans and Kal Naismith.
In the process, Cook’s men leapt above the Hatters into fourth place on the night leaders Plymouth lost a second successive match.
Yet the Blues boss was always confident of getting something out of the game.
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Hide AdAfter all, they faced an opposition seeking victory rather than sitting back with designs for a draw.
He said: ‘We were going to get chances, I can guarantee you in 90 minutes of football we will get chances.
‘Teams like Luton will always have strong spells, they are a good side, they have some good players and play the game the right way, very similar to ourselves.
‘It was always going to be a good game between teams who play that way.
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Hide Ad‘I was delighted to go to a place like Kenilworth Road – I want to be the best team on the pitch, I want us to be the best team.
‘We’ve had a lot of criticism, for good or bad, one week we cannot score here or there, but if teams will want to have a match then we will score goals.
‘We clicked, the centre-halves looked like they could defend properly, the first half was great energy and it was a great game of football.
‘Tremendous credit to Nathan Jones’ team and my team, I knew it would be a good game.’
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Hide AdThat is now 10 points from a possible 12 in recent league fixtures for the Blues, who are maintaining a promotion interest.
They sit two points off Doncaster in third place and now trail leaders by seven as they enjoy an impressive recent run.
Stevenage visit Fratton Park on Saturday, a fixture Cook knows his team must use to build on successive positive away results.
And he is quietly encouraged at the improvement in his team’s results.
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Hide AdHe added: ‘I don’t want to get involved in debates about what is good and bad, I just want to manage the club.
‘People have been questioning and moaning about the last few games, people get high too quick and low.
‘All of a sudden the last five away games we have won three and drawn two, so what are we?
‘We have to keep working away at it. We looked a good team last night and I’m really pleased for the players.’