‘We have to stop’: Portsmouth favourite sends emphatic message after Sheffield Utd triumph
Pompey claimed a 3-2 win over Sheffield United on Tuesday evening.
Zak Swanson conceded there are ‘mixed emotions’ in the Pompey dressing room after their 3-2 success over Sheffield United
But the right-back is adamant his opening 25-yard strike ranks as his best career goal to date.
Swanson fired John Mousinho’s troops into a 41st-minute lead at Fratton Park before Hamza Choudhury was dismissed on the stroke of half-time, picking up his second yellow card.
Despite Adrian Segecic doubling Pompey’s advantage after the break, Sheffield United responded and drew level after goals from Japhet Tanganga and Tom Cannon.
But there was late drama, when Ebou Adams fired him an 89th-minute winner to snatch the points and end the Blues’ three-game winless run.
And although Mousinho’s men returned to winning ways, Swanson believes his side were too ‘soft’ and ‘naive’ to allow Chris Wilder’s men a route back into the contest.
‘Mixed emotions’ after Pompey’s Sheffield United success
He said: ‘Obviously we knew coming off the back of the defeat on Sunday that it was an atmosphere we were going to have to drive and I think we tried to do that.
‘We tried to play forward quickly and there were some times in the first half when we were a bit slow but the crowd got us going a little bit.
‘The goal obviously helps and when you score it, it boosts the atmosphere and then the red card.
‘It’s mixed emotions. The gaffer spoke about it in there and there are a lot of mixed emotions because when you win in this league you have to be happy. But also there’s a lot of things we have to work on.
‘We’re too naive at times and we have to get a lot better at that and we have to stop conceding soft goals.
‘That’s cliche because anyone can say that but the goals we concede are really, really soft and we have to work defensively because it is so tough to win games in this league.
‘To score three goals and it end 3-2, it’s obviously a good thing we won but to concede two goals at the stage of the game is something we really need to work on.’
Sheffield United strike career best for Pompey favourite
Swanson netted his second of the campaign when he fired home the opener from 25-yards.
It was similar territory to his impressive strike against Millwall last season, with his goal catalogue improving once again.
And the right-back conceded his latest effort is his career best to date.
‘It's the best, I’ll be honest’, he added.
‘I don’t score any goals down the Fratton End so that end has seen all my goals. I think it’s the best goal I’ve scored so I’m very happy with it.
‘The keeper said to me how have you done that? And I couldn’t even tell myself.
‘But I got it out of my feet and the way I hit it, it was the only way I was going to score. I’m very happy.’