Danny Cowley says Ipswich - who Pompey visit this weekend - have been able to buy some of the best players from rival clubs in League One - and the Championship.

He has praised the Tractor Boys ahead of Saturday's second versus third clash at Portman Road and said they'd ask the Blues plenty of questions.

Cowley told the Pompey website: 'We’ve got a lot of respect for them as a football club. They’ve got some fantastic players and are really well coached. They’ve been able to recruit the best players from their rivals in the division — and also some of the best from the Championship.

'So they’re in a fortunate position in that respect and if you look at the way they play, as well as the consistency of their results, you can see they’re a top team. Anybody who manages to finish close to them I anticipate would be having a lot of success this season.

'We’re focused on our performance, though, and are proud of the fact that we’re still unbeaten in this division. “Our challenge is to remain that way because we know that Ipswich will ask us a lot of questions. We have to find solutions to that.

'But we’ll go there in a confident mood and with a together group. We need to be determined and resolute to get a positive outcome. We love these games and there’s been a real energy at the training ground all week. We’re a work in progress, but want to try to beat the best teams in the league.'

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