PORTLAND United assistant-manager Jake Richmond is aiming to “get some momentum going” as the Blues prepare to host Bemerton Heath Harlequins at Grove Corner tomorrow (3pm).

The Blues won their first Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division match since early November when they defeated Bournemouth Poppies 2-0 last week.

Now Richmond is keen to build up a head of steam with a team he feels is beginning to buy into manager Simon Browne’s way of playing.

He told Echosport: “They’re a great bunch of lads and they’re seriously getting round to our way of thinking.

“Hopefully we can build on last week and get some momentum going and start looking up rather than being stuck in mid-table.

“If we perform like we did on Saturday we’ll be OK. We’ve got to make sure we take our chances. We’ve drawn five of the last seven.

“You can flip that on its head and say we’ve only lost one in seven. Performance wise I don’t think we’ve put in a bad one since I’ve been here.”

On the challenge of facing a Bemerton side that held the Blues to a 0-0 draw directly prior to Christmas, Richmond is looking for his players to begin converting chances created.

He said: “Against Bemerton three weeks ago we had 17 shots on goal and the keeper has pulled off two or three top class saves.

“It’s not like we haven’t been creating chances, it’s just we’ve been struggling to convert them.

“I would imagine if they’re anything like us their squad will be two or three players different. To be fair we didn’t get what we deserved against them – we deserved three points.”

Blues’ striker Sanchez Baker is expected to return to the matchday squad after fracturing an ankle, while midfielder Alex Halloran is available again. Ross Doidge is the sole doubt with a swollen ankle.