View: Josh Murphy struggles to impress in Portsmouth win v Queens Park Rangers
Josh Murphy struggled to make an impression despite Portsmouth beating QPR 2-1 at Loftus Road in the Championship on Saturday (19 October).
Pompey finally earned their first win of the season by beating the Hoops.
After nine matches in England’s second tier, Pompey had drawn five matches and been beaten four times. Therefore, this win would have felt like a big lift off of John Mousinho’s shoulders.
While it doesn’t lift them up the table, with the South Coast club still sitting 23rd in the Championship, it would have done a lot to improve the mood at Fratton Park.
However, one forward still struggled to make an impression, with Murphy doing little to contribute to the victory at Loftus Road.
Josh Murphy struggles for Portsmouth v QPR
Callum Lang returned to the Pompey lineup against QPR, scoring the winner for the visitors, demonstrating his importance once again to Mousinho’s side.
However, his fellow forward Murphy wasn’t quite at the races.
He perhaps shouldn’t have started after his poor performance last time out. However he did, and as per Sofascore, while he did play one key pass, he only completed 57 per cent of his passes overall, while his one long ball was inaccurate.
In addition, just 25 per cent of his crosses into the box were accurate, while both of his shots were off target, and zero per cent of his dribble attempts were successful.
Murphy also struggled massively defensively. Of his six ground duels, he won just one, winning just 50 per cent of his aerial duels and giving possession away 13 times.
He did make one interception but was also dribbled past on two occasions, which would have been of particular concern to Mousinho.
Therefore, while the overall mood will be positive after Portsmouth won their first competitive game in almost six months, Mousinho has a decision to make on Murphy as his poor form continues.
In other Portsmouth news, David Norris has rued a “ridiculous” situation at Fratton Park.
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