Portsmouth boss’ firm Colby Bishop message amid barren Championship goal run
Colby Bishop has one goal in 30 Championship games from open play, with Pompey boss firing a clear message to the number nine over that run.
John Mousinho insisted he’s unconcerned about Colby Bishop’s continuing Championship difficulties in front of goal.
But the Blues boss acknowledged his number nine could do with a confidence boost, to get him firing in open play across the remainder of the league season.
Pompey’s number nine Colby Bishop backed by Mousinho
Bishop is leading the line for Mousinho’s side, in what has been a barren campaign for the 29-year-old in terms of finishes.
The striker has three goals to his name in all competitions, with one league finish from 30 games in open play.
Bishop did step up and bury a high-pressure penalty at Charlton Athletic last week, to help his team to a big 3-1 success at The Valley.
The £500,000 signing has undoubtedly been an important component to his Pompey side in general player, earning plaudits as he roughed up a couple of physically imposing defensive units against the Addicks and Millwall.
Bishop has been the Blues’ top scorer in each of his three seasons at Fratton Park, bagging 24 goals in his maiden season after joining from Accrington Stanley.
He then bagged 21 efforts on the way to the League One title, with 11 finishes last term after returning from heart surgery in November.
Pompey are among the lowest scorers in the top five divisions of English football this season, however, with missed chances a key factor in their last home loss against Sheffield United.
Mousinho on Bishop’s lack of goals: ‘I’m not obsessed with that’
A striker was sought in January to share the load with Bishop up front but a deal was not concluded, leaving Bishop likely to shoulder the weight of striking responsibility for the rest of the season.
Mousinho insisted he remains content with his number nine and isn’t ‘obsessed’ with goals from Bishop.
Speaking to Express FM’s James Wilson, Mousinho said: The most important thing, first of all, is that I’m not concerned by that (a lack of goals from Bishop). We can score goals without Colby being the main provider.
‘It would be lovely if the centre-forward, for Colby’s sake first of all, could score. It would be great if he could get on the scoresheet, but I’m not obsessed with that.
‘He’s been a little bit unlucky, in terms of the ball not dropping for him at the right time. He’s maybe not had a couple of things go his way, in the way they have over the past couple of seasons.
‘My focus with Colby is not on goals. I think we can play well enough with him not scoring - we have other players who can do it as well.
‘When chances fall to him, I think he just needs one to fall and him to put it away from open play to really boost that confidence - and then go from there.’