Joe Garner is confident that the goals are just around the corner for the frontmen
After creating several chances against Leyton Orient on Saturday, Garner and fellow strikers Jack King, Stuart Beavon and Graham Cummins failed to break down the stubborn O’s defence to the quartet’s frustration.
Speaking exclusively to PNE.Com, Garner said: “We just have to keep plugging away and be patient.
“The team are playing well and creating chances and the goals will come.
“We have just got to stay patient and take our chances when we get them.
“I will be ready whenever I am called upon.
“Beav [Stuart Beavon] took a knock to the head so we will just have to see how he is.”
The Good Friday encounter will be a different challenge for North End who have faced many of the sides battling for promotion rather than survival of late, but Pompey are on arguably their best run of the season, making this a still task for Garner and Co.
“I am looking forward to the game,” added the frontman.
“Obviously it will be a tough game, they are all tough games in this league and if we play to the way we can and how we have shown over the last month, then hopefully we will pick up three points.
“They are obviously fighting and they have some good players in there wanting to do well and they are playing for contracts.
“It is always tough playing teams like that.
“If you look at the weekend, I think if we had have got a goal then they would have had to come out and we would have scored a few, but it is always important to take your chances when you get them, especially at home against Portsmouth, who are a team down at the bottom and we need to try and score early.
“We felt disappointed against Orient, we had the better chances but you have to take them, so we move on to Friday were we can hopefully claim three points.”
Despite drawing a blank at the weekend, North End are now undefeated in three matches at Deepdale and have not conceded a goal in that time.
With the game kicking off the Easter weekend, the Lilywhites will lose a day in terms of their weekly preparation, but Garner does not envisage that causing a problem as they look to keep their run going.
He continued: “It has got to be encouraging and has got to be a positive that we have not lost in three a home.
“I think we have got to take it into next year and hopefully look to kick on.
“The Friday game doesn’t change the preparation much.
“We will be off on the Tuesday rather than the Wednesday and we just put the days back one so I don’t think it will be a problem.
“I think the lads will be fine on Friday and come out fighting and hopefully we will come away with the three points.”
Matchday tickets are available now, with fans advised to get their tickets in advance where possible for the clash with Portsmouth.
The ticket and retail store is open 9am to 5pm from Monday - Thursday and 9am until 6pm on Friday, with tickets again on sale on the day of the game from the Sir Tom Finney Stand ticket office from 9am.
You can also buy over the phone during those opening hours (lines shut 90 minutes before kick-off) on 0844 856 1966. You can also buy, without having to go through pages of registrations, online, with just a click, by visiting MYPNE.Com.