ROB Dickie says Oxford United will be full of belief tomorrow night they can achieve what no other side has done at Fratton Park this season.
Portsmouth are the only team in the EFL not to lose a league game at home.
It is an impressive record to lean on ahead of the Sky Bet League One semi-final first leg against United, who snatched a late 1-1 draw on the south coast in November.
With the return game to come at the Kassam Stadium on Monday, Dickie acknowledged finishing on level terms at the halfway point in the tie would be fine.
But the centre back wants more than just parity.
He said: “We’d take a draw, but we’ll go there and try to win. Why not?
“We feel like we’re a good side and we’ll take the game to them.
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“We’re there on merit and had won five out of five before the league was suspended.
“We were looking for the automatic places and felt like we were a force to be reckoned with.
“It’s a shame it’s ended but we’ve still got a chance of getting promoted and we’re going to try to grab it with two hands.”
As well as the team’s form in general, Dickie will be hoping to pick up where he left off individually.
A terrific campaign was recognised yesterday when he was presented with the Andrew Knapton Trophy after being voted the supporters’ player of the season.
And that sense of confidence will increase if he continues with the captain’s armband inherited just before the lockdown.
If he gets the nod, the 24-year-old will be walking United out into an empty Fratton Park.
But while the coronavirus restrictions will deprive the hosts of their sizeable backing, Dickie believes it also hinders the visitors.
He said: “I think the crowd not being there will have an effect on Portsmouth, but also on us as well.
“We love performing in front of our away end, they are an incredible group of fans and we’re going to miss them.
“We will try to get the result for them.”
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