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It was a subdued celebration from Colby Bishop, while he was even more muted when declining to speak to the media afterwards.

The worst goal-scoring run of an otherwise impressively prolific playing career has clearly hurt the man with the magic hat, likewise the accompanying scrutiny and criticism.

Indeed, afterwards John Mousinho referred to a ‘backlash’ and ‘pelters from externals and the media’ in terms of the 29-year-old’s treatment at the hands of some outside the dressing room.

Nonetheless, the fact remains that, heading into the visit of Blackburn, Bishop had registered four goals in his previous 52 appearances in all competitions.

Tellingly, Mousinho himself had opted to drop the former Accrington man on Saturday, for the second time in a season which is currently a mere six weeks old, such had been his concerning form.

Future Hall of Famer

Nobody could possibly fault Bishop’s effort, commitment, dedication and additional attributes he brings to the Blues side. He can also expect admission into Fratton Park’s Hall of Fame once his playing days are over.

Yet his goal-scoring woes have long hamstrung Pompey’s Championship progress, while the overreliance on him and alarming lack of striking alternatives have also weighed heavily on his steadily-sagging shoulders.

So it was a moment for Bishop to cherish when he netted the Blues’ equaliser against Blackburn, just three minutes having entered the pitch as a substitute.

Admittedly, it arrived courtesy of his left shoulder, inadvertently deflecting the ball into the net following the outstanding Ryan Kavuma-McQueen’s fierce left-footed 74th-minute shot.

Still, a goal it was, and thoroughly deserved for a player who has continued putting his heart and soul into the Pompey cause during the toughest of 12 months, with barely any reward amid dwindling appreciation.

Nonetheless, as a striker blessed with a free-scoring pedigree and considering the high bar he assembled for himself, Bishop will always be judged by the Fratton faithful on his goal output.

Perhaps the lack of celebration after his leveller reflected the very nature of the goal, considering its fortuitous composition. Certainly his subsequent hand gestures to the enthusiastic Kavuma-McQueen suggested he wanted calmness.

Bishop’s face was also expressionless, irrespective of registering his first goal in 10 appearances and only a fourth in the league since April 2025.

Missing Josh Murphy

In truth, nobody has suffered more in the ongoing absence of Josh Murphy, with six of his nine career Championship goals from open play created by the classy winger.

Still, they all count, just as Conor Chaplin’s did when Adrian Segecic’s volley struck his thigh at Middlesbrough in April to secure a glorious against-the-odds victory in a relegation battle.

Bishop’s own moment was also accidental, yet it earned John Mousinho’s men a deserved 2-2 draw heading into the international break, an outcome which should conceivably raise a cheer or even crack a smile.

Before that intervention, the Blues had been facing defeat, entirely self-inflicted by two moments of awful defending to gift Rovers the advantage.

It had been Mousinho’s men who broke the deadlock on four minutes when Jayden Meghoma’s cross from the left was headed out, with Zak Swanson pouncing to produce a first-time finish.

Ironically, the former Arsenal man had been recalled to the side and restored at right-back in Terry Devlin’s place, yet it was his left foot which handed Pompey a 1-0 lead.

However, just seven minutes later, Dapo Afolayan cut in from Blackburn’s left, across Marlon Pack and Swanson, and fired in a shot from inside the box which beat Daniel Bielica at his near post.

Mousinho later absolved the Polish goalkeeper of blame for that goal, preferring to pinpoint the two players who had failed to deal with the visiting winger in the first place.

Question marks over Daniel Bielica

However, there could be no ignoring Bielica’s unfortunate role in Rovers’ second on 56 minutes after his clearance flew straight to an opposition player, sparking the attack from which Ryoya Morishita scored to make it 2-1.

The keeper had registered two clean sheets in his previous three Pompey outings, yet continues to look a little shaky early in his fledgling Fratton Park career, having replaced Nicolas Schmid.

Then, with 16 minutes remaining, Kavuma-McQueen chased an apparent lost cause, fighting his way past Harry Pickering to retrieve Abu Kamara’s pass, before firing off a left-footed shot.

Bishop did the rest, of course, and the Blues had their leveller in what finished as a 2-2 draw, marking eight points from seven matches entering into the three-week international break, positioning them 18th. Steady, yet unspectacular.

And for the striker himself, a welcome goal, not that his lukewarm celebrations and stone-faced demeanour reflected a morale-boosting moment which could well transform his own season.

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