Kaide Gordon reveals what Matt Ritchie told him amid Portsmouth frustration
Kaide Gordon received his longest home runout yet for Portsmouth on Wednesday night as they were beaten by Plymouth Argyle.
Portsmouth’s shock defeat at Fratton Park on 12 March leaves them seven points clear of the Championship drop zone, as opposed to the 10-point gap forced after the win over Leeds United last Sunday.
Gordon played 36 minutes of the contest with Pompey having just fallen two goals behind when he entered the fray; he also played half of the loss at Luton Town (1 March) and made his debut with the Blues chasing the game at Sheffield United on 8 February.
Gordon explains what Ritchie told him
Since Gordon arrived at Portsmouth on loan from Liverpool late in the January window, he has made three appearances, all as a substitute when the Blues are losing.
In a way, the times John Mousinho has elected to call on him could be perceived positively, with the faith there in the young forward to get his side back into the game.
The 20-year-old did come close with one effort against Plymouth which would have kickstarted his loan spell at Fratton – the same effect Adil Aouchiche’s rocket can hopefully have.
With Gordon frustrated and hunting for game time, he is admittedly behind Matt Ritchie in the pecking order, and revealed the advice the experienced vice-captain has given him.
“You just have to be patient, and that’s just part of it,” Gordon told BBC Radio Solent (12 March).
“You can’t really complain when the team are performing well and getting results. You have to take your chance when you get it.
“Matt Ritchie is really good to be fair and helps and encourages me. He tells me I’ll get my chance and to keep being positive.”
Portsmouth cannot be making their task any harder
As unexpected as Leeds was in a positive way, Plymouth had the opposite effect as a frustrating negative.
It would be advantageous to Portsmouth if they can beat Preston North End this Saturday (15 March), before the international break kicks in. The trouble is, the Blues have won just twice on their travels since promotion.
If you asked any Pompey fan in October or November whether they’d have taken this position with nine Championship games to go, 100 per cent would have snapped your hand off.
| Kaide Gordon – Portsmouth appearances | Minutes played |
| Sheffield United 1-0 Portsmouth (8 February) | 8 |
| Luton Town 1-0 Portsmouth (1 March) | 45 |
| Portsmouth 1-2 Plymouth Argyle (12 March) | 36 |
| TOTAL | 89 |
But defeats like that to Argyle on Wednesday just feel unnecessary. It was the visitors’ first away league win of the season as they themselves scrap for their lives under Miron Muslic. Pompey have now lost to the bottom side in the table twice and beaten the top team in their last three games.
Portsmouth have done the hard work – they cannot be allowing themselves to fall back into the mire.
Should they be fighting to claw back a deficit at Deepdale on Saturday, you can be sure we’ll see Gordon back in action.