'Highlight of the night': Portsmouth boss hails Blues starlet after moment to cherish amid Reading humbling
The Academy striker scored just 23 minutes into his first-team debut
Amid the wreckage of a dreadful Pompey performance and Carabao Cup upset, there was one moment to cherish: Tayo Singerr.
For John Mousinho, the teenager’s 93rd-minute goal was comfortably the highlight of a dismal 2-1 defeat to Reading on Tuesday night.
Having been introduced off the bench in the 70th minute for his Blues debut, the second-year scholar marked the memorable occasion by heading home Adrian Segecic’s left-wing cross.
In terms of the match, it was too little, too late, representing nothing more than a consolation goal for Mousinho’s men at Fratton Park.
Nonetheless, it was a tantalising glimpse of Singerr, whose outstanding goal-scoring exploits last year saw him named Academy Player of the Season.
Mousinho told The News: ‘That was a brilliant moment. For Tayo to come on and make his debut and score as good a goal as he did was the highlight of the night from a Pompey perspective.
‘I’m really, really pleased for him and hopefully the result and the performance won’t sour what is a really special moment for him.
‘He’s a player who impressed us in spells last year. He sat on the bench for the FA Cup third round tie against Wycombe (January 2025) and didn’t come on. He earned that spot there, that was the night we gave a debut to Harry Clout.
‘Unfortunately Tayo hasn't been fit pre-season, so we haven’t seen him in any of the friendlies. We’d have definitely liked to have had a better look at him.
‘But to get him on the pitch against Reading and for him to notch his first goal was really pleasing. He’s earned it, he has done enough.
‘He only trained with us on Monday and came on the following day and had that impact. I’m really pleased for him, he’s earned his debut and, ultimately, earned his goal.’
As a first-year scholar, Singer plundered 19 goals in 32 matches for the Academy last season.
Following a knee issue sustained in training this summer, he was absent from Pompey’s friendlies, while the likes of Fraser Thomas and Michael Ani were handed the opportunity to feature for the first-team.
However, after returning to fitness, he scored twice having come off the bench for the Academy in Saturday’s 3-1 victory over MK Dons.
And, after training with Mousinho’s squad on Monday, he was named on the bench against Reading, alongside Ani, Thomas and Nathaniel Chioma.
Although, in the quartet’s absence, the Academy lost 3-2 at Bromley earlier on Tuesday in the preliminary round of the Youth Alliance Cup.
Mousinho added: ‘Tayo is a striker who isn't the biggest, but he’s physical enough and he will put himself about.
‘He’s quick, likes to run into the channels and is pretty good in the box in terms of putting the goals away, he scored a hatful for the Academy last year. Tuesday night was a really good example of what you can see from him.’