Marlon Pack perfecting new Portsmouth role despite loss v Millwall
Portsmouth losing 1-0 to Millwall on Tuesday came in spite of a superb display from skipper Marlon Pack in defence.
Despite calls for him to be dropped, Pack once against started in central defence for Pompey in their rearranged match against the South Londoners, which was settled by Mihailo Ivanovic’s first-half strike.
Pack, who has spent the majority of his career as an attack-minded central midfielder, is finding a new lease of life in the backline at Fratton Park, with the 33-year-old looking like he’s played there for years.
Marlon Pack display provides positives for Portsmouth v Millwall
An attritional match on the south coast may have ended with the points going the visitors’ way, but Pack’s influence is growing having moved back from midfield into Pompey’s leaky defence.
Pack’s past as a string-pulling midfielder was on full display, completing 49 of his 65 attempted passes at a rate of 75 per cent [FotMob] – managing more than anyone else on the pitch at Fratton Park.
Furthermore, the veteran threaded 14 of these into the final third, and while only three of his nine attempted long balls came off, Pack completed both of his attempted crosses and dribbles successfully.
Pack was heavily involved at the back, as is expected in his new role, and put in four clearances, three of which were headed, as well as five defensive actions and recovering possession seven times [FotMob].
Winning his only attempted tackle as Pompey tired in vain to keep Ivanovic at bay, Pack was successful with 71 per cent of his seven duels on the ground, as well as a further three from five in the air.
Pompey’s captain has shown a willingness to do a job wherever necessary for the team, but his switch to centre-back is so far proving to be the move which is going from strength to strength.
In other Portsmouth news, Peter Storrie reveals his highlights from his time as chief executive at Fratton Park.
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