Josh Murphy ‘pure quality’ drooled over on Sky Sports as Portsmouth footage shown
Josh Murphy has been praised for his “pure quality” in delivering the cross for Conor Shaughnessy to score for Portsmouth against Cardiff City by Mark McAdam.
Shaughnessy headed his first goal since the late winner against Barnsley to secure promotion last April, doubling Pompey’s lead against the Bluebirds at Fratton Park after Colby Bishop put the hosts into the lead.
Callum O’Dowda’s header pulled one back, but Pompey did enough to seal the three points which take them above Tuesday’s opponents (11 February).
Shaughnessy was withdrawn due to an injury precaution after an hour, having already missed five months of the season in a heart-in-mouth wait for Pompey on his prognosis.
Portsmouth flew out of the blocks v Cardiff
Portsmouth started excellently at Fratton Park, backed by a buoyant crowd into an early 2-0 lead – similarly to the contest with Stoke City on 22 January.
Murphy was a thorn in his former club’s side all night with a man-of-the-match display on the left-hand side, continuing his superb form from the past few weeks.
McAdam called his corner delivery from the left “pure quality every single time”, as he set up both of the early goals for Bishop and Shaughnessy.
“The second goal comes from a corner and it’s Josh Murphy who whips it in. His delivery is pure quality every single time,” McAdam reported live from Fratton Park on Sky Sports (11 February, 20:03).
“Shaughnessy is up from the back, loses his man at the near post, and there’s nothing Cardiff can do to keep it out of the net.
“The power takes it past the goalkeeper, and it’s his first goal in the Championship this season.”
Away form must be the primary focus
Portsmouth are producing home form reminiscent of a side pushing for the top six, but are faltering on the road to the point where they have only won once away from Fratton Park this season.
That came at QPR on 19 October, the West London side having been rooted to the bottom of the table at the time but having since improved.
The Blues have been urged to find a formula to avoid being rolled over away from home, despite some results coming harshly, such as the slender and undeserved defeat by Sheffield United on Saturday (8 February).