PORTLAND United manager Simon Browne’s glass is “half-full” ahead of the Blues’ Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division clash with fifth-placed Alresford Town at Grove Corner tomorrow (3pm).

Browne’s men are unbeaten in three league games, drawing each, and is now looking to turn good displays into victories.

He told Echosport: “It’s a glass half-full scenario. We’ve not lost a game for a while, but also we have drawn three games on the bounce that we could possibly have won had we been better or had more fortune.

“It’s still a work in progress. I want us to push on up the league and a run of four wins on the bounce can move you up the table.

“It would be nice to turn some of those performances into wins.”

Browne is also wary of the Magpies’ manager Richard Luffman, labelling him a “Marmite figure” in the league.

He said: “They’re a decent outfit with a bit of a character in their dugout. He’s a Marmite figure on the Wessex League circuit.

“It was interesting having him in the opposite dugout earlier in the season. He gave Jamie Beasley a torrent of abuse which Jamie answered by scoring the third goal.

“As you can imagine Jamie gave him a bit stick back. (Luffman) seems the kind of character that likes the confrontation.”

With Portland’s match against Fareham postponed due to last week’s cold snap, the likes of Ryan McKechnie, Sean Zima and Shane Evans played in the reserves on Saturday.

Browne said: “Ryan McKechnie was desperate to play a game and I let him off the leash and away he went. He’s like a Duracell bunny, he runs and runs and runs.”

Portland have no new injury doubts or unavailabilities, with Sam Buckler’s ankle problem set to be assessed.