Cook sets Pompey target

The manager explained his aim next term will be to beat the 78-point return his side accumulated in the 2015-16 League Two campaign.

The Blues finished in sixth place with that amount to book them a play-off spot.

Hitting 80 points is the number often associated with securing the automatic promotion berths in the fourth tier.

It took 85 points for Bristol Rovers to do it this time.

Port Vale were the last team to go up with less than 80 points, when they finished third with 78 points in 2013.

Cook stated it’s all about making strides in his eyes.

He said: ‘I’m quite proud of my managerial record from Sligo Rovers to Chesterfield.

‘Every single year my teams have improved

‘That’s the manager’s job. Every single year get more points than the year before.

‘If you are at Portsmouth for six years, work it out where we might end up.

‘I’m not being clever, but I want to beat 78 points now next year. That’s my thing.’

Cook feels it’s clear enough where the areas to focus on lie if Pompey are to make improvements.

No team in the top 10 won fewer home games in the league than his men.

Late goals also proved costly for Cook’s side, with points being dropped after they arrived against Exeter, Stevenage, Carlisle and Morecambe.

‘We have to win more home games to do it,’ added Cook.

‘We haven’t come away from games saying how lucky we’ve been.

‘Every year you do that. Every year you say you’ve dodged one.

‘But we are the ones who have had to live with the last-minute goals.’

– JORDAN CROSS