Cambridge United 1 Pompey 3: Matt Tubbs toasts another Abbey Stadium visit

The striker scored twice in the second-half on Saturday as Paul Cook’s side came from behind to clinch a 3-1 triumph.

It took his tally to a staggering 11 goals in nine games against the U’s, including a hat-trick in February’s visit to the Abbey Stadium.

At the weekend Tubbs pounced on the hosts being reduced to 10 men following skipper Mark Roberts’ half-time dismissal.

A Leon Legge own goal also contributed to a fourth league away win for the Blues so far this season.

And for the former AFC Bournemouth man, his golden run against Cambridge continues at pace.

He said: ‘I seem to do well against Cambridge United, Luton and York, I don’t know why.

‘But then again I have never scored against Oxford United.

‘It’s a strange one but all I have got to do is put myself into a position where I can score goals and luckily for me we have fabulous players who can create chances.

‘I’ve been told I have now scored eight in four games at the Abbey Stadium. The total is now 11 in nine matches.

‘It’s not something you work on and think “Cambridge is coming up I must produce and score goals”.

‘All you can do is put yourself in a position to score.

‘If you ask most strikers they will have a team they do well against.

‘Ian Foster (Pompey first-team coach) said to me on Friday that York were his team, it must be a common thing with strikers.

‘Cambridge is mine, I think that is pretty much why I started on Saturday!

‘It is always at the back of your mind, as professionals you have to go out and approach each game exactly the same.

‘We go to Newport next week and I have only scored a couple against them so I need to really pull my finger out and make sure I score.

‘I don’t know what it is about Cambridge, though.

‘I suppose I have been privileged enough to play in good teams which can create chances.’

Some media outlets incorrectly credited Tubbs with a hat-trick on Saturday. In addition, a number of bookies paid out to punters who had bet on the striker bagging a treble.

The confusion arose over Legge’s 67th-minute leveller, even though Tubbs never celebrated.

He added: ‘Some players might claim it. If I had got a little touch on it and then it deflected I would have claimed it but I didn’t.

‘For the own goal, Gareth Evans saw the space in behind and put the ball across so I tried to make my run and was just short of it.

‘Then the defender has tried to clear it and unfortunately for him sliced it into the top corner.

‘Maybe I should have celebrated and had it for myself!’