And thankfully he did, as that earned Pompey a point at Oxford!
When Adam McGurk joined Pompey in the summer he, like others, turned down the chance to play at a higher level in favour of playing in league two with PFC, which speaks volumes doesn’t it?
Although, unlike players of the past, they aren’t doing this ‘for the money’ they’re doing this as they’ve got genuine belief if what can be achieved at Fratton…
In my honest opinion most, if not all, of the players we have will be more than capable of joining us at league one level if we can make it – previously we plucked players capable of playing at league one, maybe even championship level, but many couldn’t hack it in league two, where they’ll literally get ‘hacked at’ sometimes!
We’ve still got a lot more to come from this squad I feel, and do think they’ll be better in league one if we can make it, but this squad can get us out of league two, which is the main objective this season.
McGurk, who more than has that ability about him, took a while to get his chance and start to show what he can do but now fully fit after a pre-season injury he’s in the side and scoring, having done that in successive games now.
His beauty at Oxford ‘wasn’t bad’ was it, with him telling portsmouthfc.co.uk he never had any other thought in his mind apart from ‘hitting it’ and that paid off:
‘I got in a few situations and passed the ball, but this time I thought I’d have a shot and managed to catch the keeper out.
‘I knew I was going to have a go as soon as I received it and thankfully I’ve seen it fly into the net.
‘There was a bit of movement and I’m not sure if there was a defender in the keeper’s line of sight, but he didn’t see it.’
It was a very good strike, although I’m not convinced that a goalie should be getting beaten from such a distance but I’ll not complain too much when it’s the oppo goalie being beaten!
This makes it 3-goals for the seasons and a goal in each of his last couple of league two appearances, with him fit and in the side he wants it to remain that way:
‘I got the thigh injury in pre-season and that didn’t help me, but I’m fit now and it’s good to be scoring goals.
‘We’ve got a big squad with a lot of good players, so you can’t expect to just walk into the team.
‘You need to earn your place in the side and I have to keep performing if I want to remain there.’
I’m not entirely convinced, as much as he looks like he’s got the ability to score goals, he’s an out and out striker? I could see McGurk playing alongside someone but not as the lone striker too often with him more likely to play behind that one in a free role.
Wherever he plays though if he delivers, and delivers goals, that will do me!
The point ‘in the grand scheme of things’ was ‘a good point away from home’ for him, which it was and but for the sending off of Michael Doyle he thinks it ‘might have been a different story’ as we ‘were controlling the game at that point.’
I thought Paul Cook looked a ‘pretty angry man’ at half time but McGurk said he wasn’t:
‘The gaffer didn’t lose his head at half-time, but told us to get back to playing how we do most of the time.’
Coming to the Park with a reputation, and from what I had seen of him at Burton it was warranted, will always add extra pressure for any player but the signs are starting to look even better that McGurk will live up to the expectations…
PLAY UP POMPEY!
Follow @VitalPortsmouth.
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