‘We know what’s coming’: Blackburn Rovers boss makes strong Fratton Park admission ahead of Portsmouth showdown

Tony Mowbray has warned his Blackburn Rovers squad to ‘stand up and be counted’ ahead their trip to ‘bear’s den’ Fratton Park on Saturday.

But the experienced head coach feels PO4 hasn’t been a ‘fortress’ this season after a tough Championship start by Pompey on home soil.

John Mousinho’s troops welcome their mid-table rivals this weekend, with a win making it 10 points from seven games, heading into the three-week international break.

The Blues, however, have only picked up maximum points on one occasion at Fratton Park this season, with a 2-0 win over Championship new-boys Cardiff City.

There have been, though, tough defeats against QPR and Derby County as the head coach’s new-look side continues to gel.

Blackburn make the trip to the south coast, having failed to win any of their previous two Championship visits.

Blackburn boss makes Fratton Park admission ahead of Pompey showdown

And Mowbray is aware of the threat Fratton Park poses for his Rovers side, but is confident Pompey’s home is not a ‘fortress’ this term.

Speaking to BBC Radio Lancashire in his pre-match press conference, the head coach said: ‘It’s a brilliant football stadium.

‘People used to talk about Upton Park, West Ham have obviously got this amazing London arena now but what a stadium that was to play at.

‘But, Portsmouth and Fratton Park is very much in the same ilk.

‘Wooden stands, bouncing all the way round, never see an empty seat, make a lot of noise, almost suck the ball in at both ends of the pitch, every tackle and every foul is screamed at and it’s what I would call an earthy place and a working class environment.

‘I’m from a steel town that’s a dock and a shipping area on the coast so people have worked hard there and got wood under their fingernails and they go and watch football as a release on the weekend.

‘We know what’s coming. We know it’s an environment (which will be hostile), yet they’ve lost a few games at home this season.

‘They won 2-0 against Cardiff City but they got beat by QPR - as we did - and they got beat by Derby 2-0. It’s not been a fortress for them but it will be a real atmosphere and a bear's den really.

‘We’ve got to stand up and be counted when we go there.’

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Blackburn Rovers injury update ahead of Pompey

Blackburn suffered a double injury setback in their triumph over Millwall last-time out, with Yuri Ribeiro being withdrawn after 15 minutes with a hamstring issue, while Ryan Alebiosu was forced off through illness.

Although Mowbray has revealed Alebiosu will be fit for the visit to Fratton Park, Ribeiro is a no-go alongside Adam Forshaw.

Yuri is a no-go for a few weeks, I don't know the exact timings. Definitely won’t be involved this weekend and then obviously there’s the three week break. Some stage after that but hopefully he won’t be too far away.

Forshaw is still an issue with his hip and has a consultation coming up so he won't be available in the short term but I don't want to speculate.

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