Stevenage boss Darren Sarll is hoping to replicate the preparation, performance and result from November’s 2-1 win at Fratton Park as Portsmouth head to the Lamex Stadium for the return fixture on Saturday.

Second half Steven Schumacher and Matt Godden goals led Boro to a superb win in Hampshire when the teams first met this season.

And Sarll is looking for the same outcome as he tries to put Tuesday’s 1-0 loss at Blackpool, his side’s first loss in 10 games, behind him.

He said: “Portsmouth are a very good side.

“It doesn’t matter when you play them [or] what form they are in, they have got some very good players.

“I have a great deal of respect for the manager [Paul Cook] and his coaching team.

“Again these games will be tight, there won’t be four, five, six chances for Stevenage, when you are playing the better sides in the league there will be two or three for each team and whoever converts wins and the others go home crying.

“We had a terrific performance and result at Fratton Park and we’ll need to take the same due diligence with Portsmouth now in the next two days as we did going in to the win at Fratton Park.

“It’s a tough test when Portsmouth come to town, you know the atmosphere will be good.

“The great thing for us is that the atmosphere will help us and any lingering thoughts or doubts from Tuesday will soon go in the kind of circus that comes with playing bigger clubs with a bigger allocation of away fans.

“I’m looking forward to it and trying to challenge another top three side in the league.”