Jay Sadler shares 'challenge' Portsmouth Women face ahead of Blackburn Rovers clash

Portsmouth Women boss Jay Sadler has identified the second half of last week's match against Sheffield United as what must be repeated on Sunday.

Pompey take on Blackburn Rovers on 17 November after securing a first point in the Women's Championship against the Blades last weekend with a 1-1 draw.

The Blues have really struggled but can move above their opponents with a victory which could prove vital in the survival battle.

"The challenge is to take that second-half performance [from Sheffield United] and take that into Sunday," Sadler told the Portsmouth FC YouTube channel [14 November].

"The first 20-25 minutes of the second half last week, that needs to be extended into a 90-minute performance.

"We're coming up against a team who are disciplined, looking for points, but there's a lot of confidence we can build upon."

Portsmouth Women can turn their season around

It has certainly been far from easy for Portsmouth Women in their much-discussed transition to professional football.

After romping through the National League's southern section last season, winning 20 league fixtures out of 22, it has been a real baptism of fire in a now exclusively full-time league.

Sadler this week celebrated eight years at the helm for Pompey's girls, and throughout this long stint has seen an unrecognisable transformation occur - for which many deserve full credit.

But now it's time for business, and for the Blues to lie in the bed they made and grind out survival at this level.

Opponents Blackburn have struggled deeply in recent years and could be a perfect match now Pompey have grown in confidence with last weekend's point.

In other Portsmouth news, David Norris hits back at Kusini Yengi's recent comments.

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