Hotshot is living the dream

Bird’s two goals extended the Blues’ unbeaten to six games with a 3-2 win over high-flying Exeter on Saturday.

The former non-league hotshot delivered two clinical headers which made the difference for Guy Whittingham’s side.

That makes it three goals in two games for Bird, as his meteoric ascent to the professional ranks rolls on.

The 25-year-old joins a long list of Pompey greats to have scored in front of the Fratton End down the years.

He marked that occasion with his trademark ‘woosa’ celebration.

Bird explained the reality that he is a Football League marksman is now sinking in.

And he is determined to give the Fratton faithful more days to savour.

Bird said: ‘Life is lovely at the moment. It’s amazing.

‘The ratio is good – three in two. I’ll take that!

‘I’m on the long list of massive names to do that in front of the Fratton End.

‘I’m feeling that I’m getting there now. It’s sinking in now that I’m a professional.

‘I’m learning about movement and shooting all the time.

‘The keepers are better at this level, so I have to be accurate.

‘It felt like it took ages to go in because I headed it down. I thought Pat would nick it too!

‘I was just telling it to go in, and, thankfully it did.

‘To celebrate in front of them like that is an amazing feeling.

‘The second was a bullet header and a great cross from Barch.

‘At this level, if you get the ball wide you know you will get a good delivery.

‘They say head down back across goal but maybe not to the level I did. It bounced over the keeper!

‘I did the ‘woosa’ again, too. I want to get the crowd doing it the next time I score!

‘When the crowd get going when you are on the attack it gives you a massive lift.

‘We buzz off the fans home and away. They get us going.’

Bird impressed against the Grecians, with plenty of endeavour.

He promised he would continue to put that graft in.

Bird said: ‘They kept the ball but didn’t threaten us until the end.

‘They were popping it one touch and I felt like I could shake them up.

‘I got it off their players a few times. I’ve always worked hard. It’s my job as a footballer to do that. There is no point in being lazy.

‘I work as hard as I can for 90 minutes. It’s the same in training as well.

‘If you train for two hours a day you should work as hard as you can. I know I have to do that for the crowd here. If I work as hard as I can they won’t knock me.

‘It’s a serious business. Thousands of people pay money to watch us win games.

‘You have to take that seriously.’