Appleton: We're not gunning for a Pompey draw
The U’s head to the south coast on Saturday for what is expected to be an 18,931 sell-out.
Appleton’s third-placed team are four points ahead of the Blues and suffered a home defeat to fellow promotion rivals Bristol Rovers last Sunday.
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Hide AdRegardless, the ex-Pompey boss claims he will not be setting them up to clinch a Fratton draw.
He said: ‘The frustration against Bristol Rovers was when you’re playing the teams up around you the important thing is to make sure you can get something out of the game.
‘It probably would be a better point for us than Portsmouth, but if you look at the way we played on Sunday we were always trying to get the win.
‘I don’t think we’ve got it in us to take a point.
‘To be fair, at this time of the year are points that useful to you? I’m not too sure, I think it’s about the three points.’
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Hide AdAppleton managed Pompey for almost a year before his November 2012 departure for Blackpool.
During that time the club went into administration, were deducted 10 points and then relegated to League One as they battled to stay afloat.
Appleton won 14 of his 51 matches in charge, yet until his exit was largely a popular figure among supporters during some tough times.
After a short spell at Blackpool, he moved to Blackburn, which was just as chaotic, and Oxford brought him back into management in July 2014.
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Hide AdHe returned to Fratton Park