I’ll play anywhere the manager wants me to, says versatile Ogilvie
Brought in primarily as a left-back, Connor continues fine form in the centre of defence with another clean sheet. NEIL ALLEN reports...
FOR somebody who his own manager doesn’t believe is a centre-half, Connor Ogilvie is producing a highly convincing impression.
It’s unsurprising considering he has spent a career featuring in either the centre of defence or at leftback, including time at Spurs.
Certainly Ogilvie has no preference over whichever role is allocated to him in a Pompey shirt.
At present, however, he is operating at centre-back and on Saturday was man of the match in the 1-0 triumph over former club Gillingham.
Since being restored to the starting XI in the position after last month’s 4-0 defeat at home to Ipswich, he has been a key part of a side which has gone nine matches unbeaten.
Yet he is far from a rookie in the role.
Ogilvie told The News :‘I will play anywhere the gaffer wants me to play. As long as I’m out there enjoying my football, that’s all that matters.
‘Growing up, I’ve pretty much had two positions my whole career, including while at Spurs.
‘Whether it’s left-back or centre-back, it’s not a problem and I don’t have a preference. Anywhere on the pitch I will be happy.
‘I have always prided myself in trying to be adaptable.
‘I’ve probably played more at left-back, but I did play a lot at centre-back at Gillingham as well, so it’s either for me.
‘I think everyone’s a striker when they are younger because they want to score the goals, but you get pushed back – and I ended up at left-back or centre-half.
‘No matter my position, I will put my all into every performance. As long as I’m playing, I have no problem.’
Ogilvie served as a central midfielder at Fleetwood on the opening day of the season, standing in for Shaun Williams after the Irishman picked up an injury during the warm-up.
Otherwise 14 of his 15 appearances for the club so far have come in defence – either at left-back or as a centre-half.
And, for the last two matches, he has operated in a back three, with Williams replacing the suspended Sean Raggett on Saturday.
Ogilvie added: ‘Whether it’s left-back or centre-back, it is pretty much the same. Both are defensive challenges.
‘Featuring in a back three is a bit different. Me and Raggs have normally been playing as a two, but the switch is not loads different, you just have to adapt and overcome.
‘Sean has been excellent, a massive presence in the back line this season, and deserves the praise he gets.’
Danny Cowley rated his side’s dramatic stoppage-time success at Gillingham their best win of the season.
The Blues’ boss said: ‘It was a super win, really good win.
‘I think we’ll have more free-flowing performances, but it’s very difficult to come here on a three-game week after expending so much energy already.
‘To come to a physical, direct side like Gillingham, who I haven’t seen a side play fluently against this season, was pleasing.
‘They compete really hard and turn it into a fight.
‘You have to be good enough to compete.
‘We maybe didn’t have the rhythm but it was a magnificent effort.
‘So to find the winner in stoppage time was a brilliant feeling.
‘For me to come to a really direct side with no centrehalves makes it the best win of the season.’
‘As long as I’m enjoying my football, that’s all that matters’
Connor Ogilvie