On this day: Benjani '“ leave the Portsmouth goals to me

On this day in 2007, Benjani roared to top of the Premier League goals chart and vowed: I can fire us up the table.
By The Newsroom
Published 8th Oct 2018, 10:37 BST
Updated 8th Oct 2018, 11:44 BST
Benjani, left, celebrates scoring against Fulham at Craven Cottage with Papa Bouba Diop and Sean DaviesBenjani, left, celebrates scoring against Fulham at Craven Cottage with Papa Bouba Diop and Sean Davies
Benjani, left, celebrates scoring against Fulham at Craven Cottage with Papa Bouba Diop and Sean Davies

The Zimbabwe striker made it six in six starts for the season after opening the scoring in Pompey's 2-0 triumph at Fulham. 

Hermann Hreidarsson also netted as Harry Redknapp's side climbed to fifth in the league. 

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For Benjani, his goal lifted him level with Arsenal's Emmanuel Adebayor in the Premier League's scoring stakes. 

He had already equalled his return for the whole of the 2006-07 season '“ with just a quarter of this term gone.

And the 29-year-old revealed he had set himself a goals target of more than 15. 

He said: '˜My target is between 10 and 15 goals. But anything else above 15 would be a bonus for me and the manager. 

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'˜All of the strikers need to score goals to help the club do well and I am heading to that. 

'˜If I keep scoring, I have the confidence back and I am a confidence player. I'm very happy. 

'˜If you are a striker sometimes if you hit the ball hard enough and you are lucky it goes into the net and that's what happened against Fulham, even though it took a deflection. 

'˜I now have six but I don't pay attention to the goal charts. As long as the team wins I know I will follow the leaders. 

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'˜The quality in the team now is different. Everyone is willing to play and willing to work hard so it's much easier for us up front. 

'˜Now we can play the ball around and it helps me score. 

'˜I now want to keep doing that.' 

Pompey's Craven Cottage victory made it three on the trot away from Fratton Park. 

It followed wins at Blackburn and Burnley, both of which also produced clean sheets. 

And Benjani admitted their latest triumph came on the back of a few home truths at half-time from an unhappy Redknapp. 

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He said: '˜In the first half everyone wasn't putting much effort into it and Harry told us to put everything we had into it '“ and we did that. 

'˜He wanted us to keep the ball because we have the quality in the team and we managed to get the win. 

'˜Our away form needs to improve. If we can win away as well as at home we can do really well and that's what's happening.'

Related topics:BenjaniPremier LeaguePortsmouthHarry RedknappZimbabwePompey