Ian Darke makes ‘surprise’ Colby Bishop admission after what happened at Portsmouth
Ian Darke says Colby Bishop’s return to the pitch for Portsmouth brought the loudest cheer he has ever heard for a substitution.
Bishop was reintroduced for the first time [9 November] since major heart surgery in July, late in the day against Preston North End at Fratton Park.
After just a matter of minutes back on the turf, he scored a penalty to seal Pompey’s first home win in the Championship this season and Darke was delighted after being surprised by his early return to the fold,
“The roar around Fratton Park when Colby Bishop came on was much louder than even if a goal had been scored. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a roar like that for any substitution,” Blues fan and TV commentator Darke exclusively told Pompey News.
“It was written in the stars for there to be a penalty and he ended up taking it to secure the win.
“It took everybody by surprise because we were probably looking at January as his best chance of coming back.”
Portsmouth a much stronger force with Colby Bishop
Portsmouth fans will be hoping Bishop picks up where he left off last season, having smashed the 20-goal barrier in each of his two full seasons at the club – albeit in League One.
So far among the strikers, Kusini Yengi has not scored, though he will hope his two goals for Australia in Bahrain on Tuesday [19 November] can be a catalyst; Mark O’Mahony has two this season and Elias Sorensen just one.
Pompey take on Blackburn Rovers this weekend [23 November] with Bishop expected to be in the squad as they seek back-to-back victories.
In other Portsmouth news, Mousinho has vowed to find this Blues ace a new club.
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