PORTLAND United manager Kyle Critchell conceded his side’s trip to Bournemouth Poppies is an “important game” in the Wessex League Premier Division relegation picture.

Portland travel to Victoria Park this evening (7.45pm) looking to extend to ten points the gap from themselves in 15th to Poppies in the first drop spot.

Critchell’s men come into the game after thrashing Pagham 4-0 and confidence in the islanders’ camp is consequently high.

Critchell told Echosport: “I don’t think a win or loss is going to define our season but playing any team that close is going to be an important game.

READ MORE: Portland United 4-0 Pagham - report

“We go with huge confidence and to do a job. It’s going to be a different type of game because Poppies is a notoriously difficult place to go.

“We roll our sleeves and go to try and take three points. We have to put in a performance and get a result, we’re not naïve to that.

“We’ve still got a nice gap but we’re looking upwards as opposed to downwards.

“After the performance we’ve put in against some difficult teams, we’ve proven we can mix it.”

Critchell’s player-assistant Jamie Symes is the only doubt with a hip knock.

Portland have confirmed striker Joel Hewitt has left the Blues, having fallen out of favour for first-team places.

Hewitt played just eight times for the Blues this season, failing to score.

This compared with nine goals in 31 appearances during the 2021/22 campaign.