Baker hails Pompey partnership with Evans

CARL BAKER hailed the partnership he has formed with Gareth Evans down Pompey's right-hand side.
Gareth Evans rushes to Carl Baker to celebrate the winger's goal against Grimsby Picture: Joe PeplerGareth Evans rushes to Carl Baker to celebrate the winger's goal against Grimsby Picture: Joe Pepler
Gareth Evans rushes to Carl Baker to celebrate the winger's goal against Grimsby Picture: Joe Pepler

And the winger admitted his team-mate’s role in the Blues’ side makes his job so much easier.

The former Coventry man combined with the right-back to score Pompey’s third goal in the 4-0 victory against Grimsby on Tuesday night.

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The pair exchanged a neat one-two before Baker fired home to put Paul Cook’s side in control of the game at half-time.

It was the latest sign of a blossoming relationship that was also instrumental in the Blues’ win against Colchester last weekend.

Despite being a winger by trade, Evans has settled well into his new role at full-back.

He likes to bomb forward whenever possible and has netted three times this season.

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And Baker believes that benefits him and the team as Pompey bid to close in on promotion.

‘Evo (Evans) did brilliant for me on Tuesday, said Baker.

‘A lot of players would have just smacked the ball in the box and hoped for the best, but he had the awareness to look up and pick me out.

‘When he gets into those positions it comes naturally for him to pick players out.

‘It’s nice for me personally because I like to come in off the line and I know he’s always coming round the outside of me.

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‘I’ve always got the option of turning out and slipping him in or keep going myself.

‘He reminds me of Cyrus Christie when I was at Coventry – he used to do the same and bomb on.

‘It makes it difficult for opposition wingers.

‘They have to track them back and it takes a lot of energy out of them.

‘As a winger we don’t like tracking back, so if he keeps running these wingers and full-backs the other way it is making them more tired and helping me get into the space.’