View: 85.7% ace Josh Murphy is key to Portsmouth survival
Portsmouth have to ensure Josh Murphy remains fit for the rest of the season to raise the whole team’s performances and secure survival.
The left-winger, signed on a free transfer from Championship rivals Oxford United in the summer to reunite with former teammate John Mousinho, has been vital for the Blues and carries the bulk of the Championship experience in the whole squad.
While that becomes very telling of the club’s recruitment strategy in the last window, labelled cheap by many supporters at Fratton Park, it also highlights the ability Murphy has shown to help lift his side.
His performances have been praised of late, alongside his accountability after admitting fault for the opening goal last time out via Instagram, as Derby County put Pompey to the sword at Pride Park [13 December].
Next up is a Fratton return against Frank Lampard’s Coventry City side on Saturday [21 December].
Josh Murphy leading Portsmouth survival charge
Murphy is one of a rare crop at Fratton Park who knows how to navigate the Championship and despite a slow start after an ankle injury, he is now hitting his best form fairly regularly.
The 29-year-old hit three goals and two assists in just three league games against Preston, Swansea and Bristol City, which momentarily elevated the team out of the drop zone and ignited hope.
His creativity has exhibited itself in recent weeks, always looking to move forward with the ball. He has four goals and four assists apiece, leading the goal contribution charts for his club, as well as an average of 100.2 yards progressed in possession per 90 minutes [FBRef] as he constantly looks to test the resolve of a varying standard of defences.
In fact, Murphy leads the way in post attacking areas for Mousinho’s men. The winger has sent in 65 crosses so far this season, finding a teammate with 27.7 percent – one of the highest averages in the Championship to date [Fotmob].
His 0.3 assists per 90 minutes have outranked an xA of 0.21, while he has completed an impressive 56.1 percent of his forward dribbles – mainly down the left-hand side which frees Connor Ogilvie behind him to prioritise a sometimes much-needed defensive focus.
Despite criticism of the team’s defensive work – especially down that left flank – Murphy and Ogilvie combine well going forward.
FBRef data shows Murphy to average 3.83 progressive carries per game, a team-high, while Ogilvie has completed 53 progressive passes in tandem – a statistic only bettered by Marlon Pack (64) who has dropped in at centre-half and is continually making advanced passes.
And finally, that is certainly not to ignore the contribution put in by Murphy off the ball. He may not specialise in doing the dirty work, but his 85.7 percent tackle success average this season [Fotmob] ranks above a vast number of fellow Championship wingers and forwards.
This is certainly a key element to a side whose possession stats are the second-lowest in the division (43.1 percent, only Millwall at 40.9 percent rank lower) and survival will require plenty of productive organisation off the ball.
In other Portsmouth news, Ian Darke notices a worrying trend emerging at Fratton Park.
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