'I've learnt my lesson!': Why Portsmouth goal hero has already scrapped that iconic Southampton celebration
The 30-year-old scored Pompey’s third goal in Saturday’s 3-0 victory over West Brom
Ebou Adams savoured yet another Fratton Park goal and admitted: I wasn’t going to do that Southampton celebration again!
The former Derby man last week spectacularly capped his home debut with the leveller in the south-coast derby, followed by running the length of the pitch to enjoy the moment with the Fratton End.
Just six days later, Adams once again netted in front of the Milton End, this time bagging the Blues’ third goal in Saturday’s 3-0 triumph over West Brom.
Amid the celebrations, that salute remained, but definitely no repeat of the lung-busting run which would enter Fratton folklore.
‘I learnt my lesson’
Adams told The News: ‘For Saturday’s goal, I remember counter-pressing, because the gaffer has been on that, counter-pressing and winning the ball back.
‘Then I saw Colby come up and he headed it to Chappers, who saw me through the little gap - and the rest was history.
‘Everyone was thinking “Is it going in?”. I was sure it was going in! I knew it was going under the crossbar, so that’s the main thing.
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‘I wasn’t going to do that run again to celebrate again, though. I exhausted myself last time, I learnt my lesson!
‘Against Southampton, they scored and I was a bit fuming with their lad (Leo Scienza), it wound me up a bit. He did the whole length of the pitch, I was thinking “You little so-and-so”.
‘What was amazing that, as soon as they scored, the place erupted and our fans carried on singing. I looked behind me and went “Wow” and I wanted to give them something. I’m thankful it was me who managed to score that equaliser and did a celebration.
‘Doing that salute is one of those things when I score. You just lose control and it’s like a default celebration for me, it kind of calms me down!’
One defeat in nine league games for Pompey
Remarkably, Adams has now scored twice in his opening four matches since joining the Blues in a £500,000 switch from Derby.
It has been a stunning instant impact from the powerful midfielder, who has helped Mousinho’s to eight points and no defeat during those opening appearances.
It means Pompey have lost one of their last nine league matches, encouraging momentum which is slowly dragging them up the table - while the Baggies continue to plummet.
Conor Chaplin and Millenic Alli were the other scorers in Saturday’s 3-0 success, marking first goals of the season for the loan pair, who also each weighed in with an assist.
And Adams is delighted with his ongoing honeymoon period on the south coast.
‘Playing with a smile on my face is massive for me’
He added: ‘It’s nice here, the boys have been good, once I play with a smile on my face it’s massive for me.
‘The boys have been incredible, I can only thank them and the staff because, if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be performing like that.
‘Although I don’t set myself a goal target, as long as I keep scoring or the team keeps scoring, we keep winning and I’m happy.’