'The dug-out celebrated too': Skipper's delight as hugely popular Portsmouth favourite ends eight-year wait
Chaplin scored his first Pompey goal since February 2018
It was one man’s goal, but celebrated as a squad - and, according to Marlon Pack, nobody deserved it more.
Conor Chaplin had uncharacteristically gone an agonising 23 matches without scoring in his second Fratton Park spell, no doubt weighing heavily on his shoulders.
Then, in the 20th minute against West Brom, Millenic Alli pulled the ball back from the left, with the Ipswich loanee connecting with a sweet first-time left-footed shot to open the scoring.
It was almost eight years to the day since the attacker last registered for the Blues, when he struck in a 2-1 home League One defeat to Blackburn.
Chaplin’s relief on Saturday was obvious, with Pack and his fellow substitutes racing over to join in with a special moment for a hugely popular team-mate they had been desperate to see find the net again.
‘He’s been really infectious’
The Blues’ club captain told The News: ‘His celebration and the team celebration towards his goal pretty much paints the picture.
‘I know it hasn’t gone swimmingly for Chappers in terms of goal contributions and what he’d want to deliver to the team in terms of assists and goals, but he’s been a really important member of this team.
‘He has led off the pitch superbly, he also leads on the pitch, which I don’t think people in the crowd would be privy to or he won’t get the credit for. He always wants the ball, even when it sometimes doesn't come off he’s always available in tight areas, continuously wanting it and trying to make things happen.
‘I actually came running out to celebrate with him, the dug-out did, you could see how pleased we were for him. Chappers has been really infectious around the group, he has built people up when they’ve needed it.
‘Being an attacking midfielder, his contribution hasn’t quite gone to his liking, but he fully deserved that. He worked tirelessly and kept going, he nearly got a second, and it was a great little ball for Ebou’s goal.
‘Chappers fully deserves that, I’m really pleased for him. He has been massive to us, in terms of our press and what he’s brought as a leader.
‘He has bought into this football club, particularly at this moment in time, this group, and he is a vital member of this team - and hopefully that’s the floodgates open now.’
Man-of-the-match display
Chaplin capped a man-of-the-match display by also assisting Ebou Adams for Pompey’s third goal on 49 minutes as they secured an impressive 3-0 victory.
It was a huge win in the context of the relegation battle, with West Brom having slid alarmingly down the table to become Championship relegation rivals.
Indeed, Mousinho’s men leapfrogged above the Baggies into 20th spot - and it was Chaplin who was the architect.
Pack added: ‘We see every day in training the quality he brings and it’s probably a reflection of us in the team, when things are going well and flowing, you start seeing confidence now in players.
‘If we can maintain that, even when things aren't quite going well, if we still have that aura and that confidence then we’ll have a positive end to the season.
‘I’m a firm believer that if you keep doing the right things and putting the effort in and working hard, then you’ll get your rewards eventually.
‘It has probably gone on a little longer than Chappers would have hoped for, but that’s football sometimes.’