Wycombe Wanderers manager Matt Bloomfield believes the club are creating a new ‘identity’ and that they will be able to go ‘toe-to-toe’ with the top-of-the-table Portsmouth on Good Friday.

The Chairboys host the ex-Premier League outfit who currently sit five points clear of the League One standings with one game in hand over second-place, Derby County.

But Wanderers will be hoping to delay the inevitable promotion party for Pompey, as they head into the Easter break with three consecutive league victories.

Speaking ahead of the fixture, Bloomfield, whose team haven’t had a game for two weeks due to the international break, said: “We’ve had some good days on the grass whilst having a few days off at home with our families resting and recuperating.

"We know it’ll be a busy period between now and the end of the season.

“It’s going to be exciting as we want more points to get up the table, but it’s nice to have time to breathe ahead of the weekend.

“Only results will determine whether or not the break has come at a good or bad time in terms of our momentum, as we didn’t want the game off against Cambridge – we wanted to play it as we were in good form.

“But you need to look at the positives in everything so we gave the boys a few days off whilst making sure we’re ready between now and the end of the season.

“We’ve had a very busy period from Christmas until now and we’re ready to go again.

On facing Portsmouth, who have ex-Wycombe midfielder John Mousinho as manager, he added: “We’re up against the league leaders, so it’s an exciting time.

“We’ve been creating good opportunities and I want us to continue with that, and we keep playing the way that we have been since Christmas, we can go toe-to-toe with the teams we’re up against until the end of the season.

“In Colby Bishop, they have one of the best number nines in the league as they can play into him whilst also playing off.

“They’ve got good pace out wide with a lot of dribbling ability in Marlon Pack, so they’re going to bring a lot of quality.

“They’re top of the league and with the gap they’ve got, it’s only a matter of time before Portsmouth secure promotion – John [Mousinho] has also done a brilliant job there.

“Portsmouth have got a good squad and they’ve been top of the table for pretty much the whole season for a reason.

“They’re efficient in picking up results and we need to be on it against them.

“But I hope we can continue this momentum as I’ve got high hopes for this club and belief in the players.

“We need to be as positive as I believe that we’re creating an identity in the way that we want to do things, and for me, it’s all about continuing that.”

Finally, on the final month of the season which will see Wycombe play eight games across 26 days, he concluded: “As I’ve shown with Franco [Ravizzoli] in goal and with Nigel [Lonwijk] coming into the team, if you’re in good form, it’s up to the lads who are in possession of those shirts to produce the performances that keep you in the team.

“We’ve got good competition and after what we did in January, the players are thriving from it.

“Of course, players aren’t happy with not starting but you want that as everyone needs to be chomping at the bit to be playing.”