Naismith targets goalden Pompey finale

Kal Naismith is out for a goal-laden finale to the season after his whirlwind Morecambe strike.
Kal Naismith celebrates his goal against Morecambe. Picture: Joe PeplerKal Naismith celebrates his goal against Morecambe. Picture: Joe Pepler
Kal Naismith celebrates his goal against Morecambe. Picture: Joe Pepler

Naismith’s eighth finish of the campaign last night moved him to the top of the Blues goal charts alongside Gary Roberts and Conor Chaplin.

The Scottish winger’s effort came within seconds of him entering the fray in the 63rd minute.

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Naismith’s first touches saw him run at the Shrimps defence before burying a 25-yard finish.

And now the 25-year-old’s out for more of the same over the final 13 games of the season.

Naismith said: ‘I just had to be ready when I came on. The gaffer always tells us to be ready.

‘I’m in good company with the top scorers! Gary scores goals and important goals. Conor will always score you goals, so I’m glad to be up there with those two.

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‘I just want to keep scoring. I’m happy with where I’m at – but I want to score a lot more.

‘Just to be up there with those two is good.

‘I want to score a lot more, though, and I’m sure those boys will want to score a lot more.

‘On a personal level it’s good to be with them.

‘It’s good to get another goal but I’d rather not score and get three points.’

Pompey would have moved into the top three with a victory last night. So Naismith admitted Lee Molyneux’s leveller with seven minutes left was frustrating.

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The former Rangers man stressed his team had to view the result as a point gained on third-placed Carlisle.

Naismith said: ‘It feels like a blow but if you think if we had won and Carlisle had won there be no change.

‘In fact, we’re a point closer with the draw.

‘The natural instinct is to think if we’d won we’d be third with a game in hand but we’ve gained a point on the top three so you have to look at that in a positive way and not a negative.

‘We’re playing well at this stage but there’s still a long time to go.

‘We’re all on the same page and we’re going along nicely.

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‘I think the boys feel good and the changing room is a good place to be.’

Naismith managed to beat Morecambe keeper Barry Roche but the Irishman still impressed with a number of saves for his side.

After popping up in injury-time to score against the Blues last season, Naismith hopes his team don’t face Roche again anytime soon.

He said: ‘They seem one of those sides, Morecambe. They always seem to get something.

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‘Barry Roche has shown a big presence in goal as well. He’s a good goalkeeper and he’s had a very good game.

‘I think we’ll be glad to see the back of him.

‘Is it bad finishing or good goalkeeping? A lot of those efforts were good keeping. He made some great saves.’