Third in the table (on goal difference to Ipswich), one point behind leaders Plymouth with a game in hand, Portsmouth have made a good start to the League One season.
They are the only unbeaten side in the division and come to Portman Road having enjoyed a two-week break, with their game against Bolton called off because of international commitments last weekend.
While they are unbeaten, they have drawn three of their nine games and were mighty close to losing that unbeaten record when they met Plymouth in their most recent game two weeks ago. Reeco Hackett-Fairchild’s 94th-minute equaliser saved Pompey on that occasion in a 2-2 draw.
Portsmouth began the season with a fine 3-3 draw at Sheffield Wednesday, while Lincoln (0-0) were the other side to take a point off them, as Pompey actually started their League One campaign with two draws.
They are a good side and have a run of fixtures ahead, including against the likes of Fleetwood, Forest Green and Shrewsbury you would expect them to win.
Danny Cowley may well be making his name now in the professional game, but it was in non-league he and his brother, Nicky, came to the fore. His rise through the pyramid of football has been impressive.
After retiring because of injury, Cowley, a midfielder in his playing days, went into management at his local club, Concord Rangers. There he helped transform them from Step five Essex Senior League to Step Two, National South and attendances increased from 50 to 350.
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He moved up another Step to Braintree Town where he guided them to the National League play-offs and just one step away from the Football League.
Lincoln, another National League side, came calling, and Cowley delivered again, this time taking them into the Football League after promotion in the 2016/17 season.
Huddersfield Town were the next to come calling for Cowley’s services but he didn’t enjoy the success he had at other clubs during what was a short tenure.
He took a short spell out of the game before, in March 2021, he was appointed manager of Portsmouth. In his first game, against Ipswich, Portsmouth came from behind to win 2-1
