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changes in management at Fratton Park since mean that City’s 6-0
drubbing of Portsmouth in September will have no bearing on Saturday’s
return fixture, in Mark Hughes’ opinion.
The two clubs finally meet
again today following the postponement of the game last month due to
the cold snap in early January. Harry Redknapp was in the dug-out for
City’s home win over Pompey, but his subsequent departure and successor
Tony Adams’ sacking this week mean that Paul Hart is in charge for
this game.
Hughes says, "I don't anticipate it being the same
result. I would love it to be at the same level, but they have changed
the manager, which can have a positive or negative effect in the short
term.
"Fratton Park is always a difficult place to go. Everyone understands that whatever the circumstances going into the game.
"They
have great support and a lot of backing and they may feel that, with
their backs against the wall, everybody has to pull together, and that
will be something we have to deal with. It's not an easy fixture but we
are playing well at the moment.”
The departure of Adams elicited
a sympathetic response from Hughes, who had some fierce battles with
the former Arsenal & England defender in their playing days.
He
continues, "You feel for Tony because he only had 16 or 17 games, which
isn't a great amount of time to stamp your philosophy and try and build
a winning culture at your football club.
"It's hard to take under those circumstances but obviously the people in charge felt a change was needed.”
But
City’s away form is more of a pressing matter for Hughes, who is fully
aware that the Blues have not won on the road in the Barclays Premier
League since the 3-0 victory over Sunderland in late August.
"We would like to think we can sustain a challenge from now until the end of the season.
"It
will be difficult because we've got a period of away games coming up,
which will be very testing given our away form this season, so we have
got to make an improvement quickly.
"It would be a good time to
start this weekend. We need to get back on track on our travels. It's
been too long since our last away victory."
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