Harris delight with Kabamba Pompey progress

Jamal Lowe set up the goal for his team-mate Nicke Kabamba. Picture: Colin Farmery

The January transfer window arrival registered his fourth successive goal for the reserves as they last night defeated Sheffield United.

Bundling home from close range after Jamal Lowe’s shot had been saved, the decisive moment arrived 10 minutes from time.

It settled a tight Westleigh Park contest to book the Blues’ reserves into the quarter-finals of the Premier League Cup.

Kabamba also made his Football League debut at the weekend after appearing as a second-half substitute at Stevenage.

And reserve boss Harris is delighted with the striker’s ongoing impact.

He said: ‘That’s what Nicke can do, he has got to keep putting pressure on the gaffer to give him another opportunity.

‘I felt his performance was good. He led the line well, as he always does, he’s got a great attitude and that was a battling team performance.

‘His goal was a case of right place, right time.

‘He and Jamal have a great understanding from their time together at Hampton.

‘They know if one of them is having a shot the other is going to be in and around for the bits off the keeper.

‘That is what Nicke did against Sheffield United and fair play because I thought their keeper had an excellent game and made some great saves.

‘Fortunately for us he couldn’t hold onto that one from Jamal – and Nicke was in the right place.’

There was sparse penalty-box action for the crowd of 380 to enjoy in a close contest.

Yet Harris was delighted with the attitude of the Blues’ players.

He added: ‘United were a very good side, I watched them in the lead up to the game and was impressed.

‘I knew they were going to come with a high level of commitment, with a high level of energy, and they showed that all over the pitch.

‘I thought they were a quality outfit and we had to dig in to get the result and get through, so credit to the boys.

‘That’s four in four for Nicke, but as a team we really, really worked hard for one another, I don’t think there was a bad performance from our group from a commitment point of view.

‘Could we have been better with the ball? Yes. Could we have passed it a bit more? Yes.

‘But sometimes you have to dig in and that’s a quality you need to be successful.’

– NEIL ALLEN