Pompey had their unbeaten run to start the season ended by Ipswich Town last weekend and they take on Aston Villa Under-21s in the EFL Trophy tonight.
Both Portsmouth and the Aston Villa development team are yet to taste victory in the competition, and they will be eager to put that right.
Cowley admits frustration at Portsmouth having lost their unbeaten streak last weekend, but sees the game against Villa Under-21s as an opportunity for his team to regroup and resume winning ways.
The Portsmouth boss is full of praise for the Aston Villa academy, revealing he has been following the youth teams of the Villans, and he is looking forward to the game.
“We were frustrated to lose our unbeaten run at Ipswich on Saturday, but now we have an immediate opportunity to try to get back to winning ways”, Cowley was quoted as saying by Portsmouth’s official site.
“Villa have an excellent academy and I remember watching them in the 2021 FA Youth Cup final, when they beat Liverpool.
“They’ve really invested in their facilities, their staff and their players, bringing in a lot of talented young players.
“I saw them in the Papa Johns Trophy last season and they represented the club well, so we’re looking forward to the game.”
Aston Villa Under-21s themselves are coming into the game having been thumped 6-2 by West Bromwich Albion last week and they will be looking to get a first win since August, in any competition, tonight.
