Pompey first-team spot is Main target for Curtis

The summer signing from Doncaster opened the scoring from the penalty spot to give Paul Cook’s side a half-time advantage they were unable to preserve in their 3-2 extra-time EFL Cup defeat at Coventry.

The visitors named an entirely different starting XI to the side held to a frustrating 1-1 Fratton Park draw in Saturday’s League Two opener with Carlisle.

And after a lively Ricoh Arena display the 24-year-old, who was overlooked for the Blues’ curtain raiser, insisted he is doing all he can to force he way into Cook’s plans ahead of the weekend trip to Crewe.

Main said: ‘I am always going to try to show that I should be in the side week in, week out.

‘Every player’s memo is to be in that side every match day.

‘For me, I want to be doing everything I can to be in that starting XI – whether it is in a cup game or a league game.

‘It is down to me to show my qualities and why I should be in the side.’

A goal on debut was a nice way for Main to go about making his point.

Although he had to fend off Kyle Bennett for the opportunity.

That’s after Bennett won the penalty himself and expressed an interest in taking it – only for Main to pull rank.

It was an argument the latter was not prepared to lose.

And he stepped up to find the back of the net to put the Blues ahead in the tie.

The striker felt it was his job to net.

He said: ‘It is always nice to get a goal and on my debut especially so.

‘I was pleased with that .

‘I went to get the ball and just said to Kyle well done on creating the chance and winning it but I was going to take it!

‘I am little bit bigger than him – there’s a bit of a difference.

‘As a striker my job is scoring goals.

‘At the end of the day that is what I am here for.

‘I am very confident taking penalties and I will not shy away from that if there is an opportunity to do so.’

After the Blues went ahead at the Ricoh, League One Coventry hit back to lead 2-1 .

Out-of-favour Kal Naismith then stepped up to force extra-time with a stunning free-kick for Pompey.

Unfortunately for the visitors their efforts went unrewarded after conceding 13 minutes from a penalty shootout.

Main, though, believes they have now given Cook food for thought ahead of Saturday.

He added: ‘Everybody who came in did a very good job.

‘The lads who aren’t in the team are snapping away at the heels of the lads who are.

‘It is all competitive and that is why you build a squad – it is to drive each other on.’