View: Portsmouth fans know exactly what to do after Norwich manager comments
Portsmouth fans know the task at Fratton Park on Tuesday night following pre-match comments from Norwich City manager Johannes Hoff Thorup.
The Canaries chief has been vocal about what his side must do to hush the crowd at Fratton [10 December], as the two sides meet for only the second time in 13 years.
Norwich’s last visit to Pompey in May 2011 saw them secure promotion to the Premier League, and Thorup wants a repeat of the victory they secured that day – believing he knows the key factor in achieving it.
John Mousinho’s men can make it three straight home victories with three points on Tuesday, and recently the Pompey fans have attracted plenty of external praise both home and away.
As posted by a fan on X [10 December], the Norwich boss said: “The best way to kill the momentum of the stadium is to go in there, make a lot of passes, build from goal-kicks. You kill the intensity of them.
“And most of all, you also kill the atmosphere in the stadium, which is something you need to consider when you go away from home. If the crowd is not as loud as they normally are, the crowd turns into being something that is not in their favour.”
Portsmouth fans must feed off Thorup’s comments
I might sound biased – I in fact sound incredibly biased – but Portsmouth boast a home crowd who have historically played a huge part in securing victories, providing momentum and giving hostility to visiting teams.
It will be a cold, blustery December night on the coast, and Pompey have to ensure they remain immensely focused on the game. The fans are part of that – they must ensure there is no slouching in the stadium, no early groans if Norwich play their stuff early doors.
Go a goal down – drown out the away end cheers. Pompey specialise in it. I’ve been a home fan in the Milton End, next to the visiting section, hearing the bellows of the Fratton End outdo the away cheers when the Blues have conceded.
It’s rare, unless a complete smokescreen, that an opposition manager will reveal as much as Thorup has over how to pacify Fratton Park. After all this, he could have his team immediately throwing the kitchen sink at it and attempting to be an overwhelming attacking force. With the likes of Borja Sainz in their ranks, they are capable of just that.
But that is out of the control of the Blues faithful. What is imperative is that should there be any noticeable Norwich attempt to “kill the atmosphere” as Thorup phrases it, the home fans do not take the bait. Continue to be that driving force.
In other Portsmouth news, finance expert Dan Plumley outlines the money-related consequences of the Blues’ recent double postponement.
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