Pompey striker expects new battle

Ryan Taylor will relish further competition for his place if Andy Awford delves into the transfer market in January.
Ryan Taylor, right, celebrates after scoring against Northampton. Picture: Joe PeplerRyan Taylor, right, celebrates after scoring against Northampton. Picture: Joe Pepler
Ryan Taylor, right, celebrates after scoring against Northampton. Picture: Joe Pepler

The Blues striker has just two goals to his name so far this season and has not struck in League Two since the 2-1 win over Cambridge United way back in August.

He did score in the JPT defeat to Northampton in October – but ahead of today’s trip to Cheltenham, it was 10 games without a goal.

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Although the 26-year-old has a vital role in the team as the target man to help link the play, he also knows himself his goals return will always come under scrutiny.

Awford made no secret of the fact he was looking to bolster his striking options before the emergency loan window closed recently.

And it seems increasingly likely he will revisit the issue during the January transfer window.

But Taylor has no problem with another contender joining the battle.

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He said: ‘Obviously, I’d like to be scoring every week but I’ve just got to keep working hard and I’m sure the goals will come.

‘As strikers, if we are not doing the business and putting the ball in the back of the net, the manager will look elsewhere. We all know that.

‘But it is all about competition for places and we all accept that.

‘If someone else comes in and takes my place, then it’s up to me to work even harder and get back in the team.’

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Aside from Jed Wallace, who has 11 goals this season, Pompey have struggled to fire all campaign – especially away from Fratton Park where they have scored just four times in 10 games ahead of today’s fixture.

In Taylor’s defence, he has had few sights at goal in recent weeks and forced a good save from the goalkeeper in last week’s 3-2 loss to Accrington with his only real chance.

He said: ‘We have changed the formation slightly in the past few games.

‘In that system, the ball is played up to me pretty quickly and it’s up to me to be the focal point and bring others into the game, whether that is Craig (Westcarr), Miles (Storey) or Jed running off me.

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‘It has worked brilliantly in some games and maybe not as well in some of the others.

‘There haven’t been too many chances for me lately but you have games like that sometimes.

‘I know I also need to be there to get on the end of things.

‘As a team, we haven’t created as many opportunities as we would have liked.

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‘But then again, we created a lot and I had a few chances against Morecambe recently.

‘Even though they weren’t going in for me, I still felt confident I would score if another chance came along.

‘As a striker, you are going to miss chances.

‘You have to keep putting yourself in that position and be ready to take them.

‘I will keep going.’