Gaffer: Ronan Curtis back to old self - but Portsmouth need two new centre-forwards next season

Gaffer for a Day, Mark Beale, aged 46 from Hayling Island, analyses Pompey’s 2-0 win over Swindon...
The Gaffer of the Day, Mark Beale, was impressed with Ronan Curtis' return to form against Swindon. Picture: Jason Brown/ProSportsImagesThe Gaffer of the Day, Mark Beale, was impressed with Ronan Curtis' return to form against Swindon. Picture: Jason Brown/ProSportsImages
The Gaffer of the Day, Mark Beale, was impressed with Ronan Curtis' return to form against Swindon. Picture: Jason Brown/ProSportsImages

Thoughts on Pompey’s win?

It was a great performance up until we scored the early goal, but after that we looked sluggish and uninterested in getting the second goal to kill the game off.

A typical Kenny Jackett performance really as we just don’t go for it. In games we are content to hold on to what we’ve got.

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It’s like we wait for something to happen, rather than trying to make something happen.

What did you make of Pompey's striking change to the starting XI?

John Marquis is still struggling to impress, he looks so low on confidence.

Although he runs around a lot and tries to make things happen, he really does not look like a top League One striker and surely is living on borrowed time.

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Ellis Harrison coming on added more of a focal point, but he is struggling in front of goal too. Maybe the penalty will give him more confidence.

I’m looking forward to next season whatever division we are in. I really can’t see these two as our main strikers.

Who stood out for you?

Ronan Curtis is my man of the match, he looks more like his old self.

Maybe we were being a bit harsh on him in the past few weeks as he’s had covid and probably took a while to get his fitness back.

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James Bolton continues to impress at centre-back, also bearing in mind he has hardly been involved this season.

When George Byers came on you could tell he’s a Championship player with his vision and passing. It was a great pass to Ryan Williams for the penalty decision.

What did you make of Brett Pitman’s return?

Brett was completely anonymous, which was surprising as surely he would have wanted to put one over on his former manager considering the way he was treated in his final year at Fratton.

I’m sure if fans were there last night he would have got a great reception as the fans loved him.

I would still rather have him in our side than Marquis.

Craig MacGillivray

Callum Johnson 6

Sean Raggett 6

James Bolton 6

Charlie Daniels 7

Marcus Harness 6

Tom Naylor 6

Andy Cannon 6

Ronan Curtis 7

Ryan Williams 5

John Marquis 4

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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