'Massive': Mixed feelings for Portsmouth £1.8m man after finally ending long wait
The Blues conceded two second-half goals to slip to a 2-1 defeat
Tyrese Shade toasted the ‘massive’ moment which finally saw him open his Pompey goal account.
But the former Eastleigh man was gutted to still finish empty handed against Stoke, despite that sixth-minute opener.
The deadline-day £1.8m arrival from Burton, registered on his 10th Blues outing when he pounced inside the box to strike a first-time right-footed shot into the far corner of the net in front of the Milton End.
The 26-year-old has largely operated on the left-wing since arriving at Fratton Park, yet today took on the centre-forward mantle in place of the injured Marko Milovanovic.
By Shade’s own admission, the goal drought had been nagging at him, but he at last ended his duck in a 2-1 defeat for John Mousinho’s men.
‘It’s always at the back of my mind’
He told The News: ‘It fell kindly to me, the ball just dropped in the box and my first instinct was to shoot. I think it was a good finish.
‘That goal is massive, it brings confidence and motivation. Once I got it, I tried to show a bit more, tried to be a bit more exciting, hopefully there’s many more to come from myself.
‘Having not yet scored since the move, it’s always at the back of my mind, although not something I had dwelled on too much. I just knew once I got that opportunity in the box to just shoot - and it fell kindly to me.
‘I don’t think I’ve missed a clear-cut one, I’ve had a few that the keeper’s saved, come off the post or narrowly wide.
‘But my family have kept badgering me to keep hitting the areas and just shoot. My mum, my girlfriend and my mates will be pleased to see that one go in today.
‘It’s just a shame we couldn’t get any points from the game, which is really disappointing.’
Shade marked his Pompey goal breakthrough with a somersault in front of the North Stand, a goal celebration familiar throughout his career.
Certainly Burton and Eastleigh fans would have previously witnessed the acrobatic moment during high-scoring spells with both.
It wasn’t quite of the calibre and benchmark of Lomana Lualua in terms of Pompey players from the past, but, when the occasion is right, Shade plans to continue his star turn.
‘I wanted to show the fans I can do a bit of a somersault’
He added: ‘Normally it depends on the calibre of the goal - I think that was worthy.
‘I have done it many times when scoring. One day I found out I could do it, I have quite a leap, so I did it the first time, it came off, and I kept doing it.
‘It was my first one here, I wanted to show the fans I can do a bit of a somersault. It depends on the circumstances, but going 1-0 up, it was the right time to celebrate.’