Holders Portsmouth and Salford City win through to showpiece final
REACHING Wembley in the Leasing.com Trophy is another sign that Cameron McGeehan made the correct choice when he joined Portsmouth on loan early last month.
Despite playing a major role as Barnsley won promotion from League One last season and getting a decent amount of game time in the second tier this term, it became clear in the new year that midfielder McGeehan wasn’t part of new Tykes boss Gerhard Struber’s plans for the second half of the season.
The 24-year-old weighed up his options and decided the best one was to drop down a division to sign for Pompey on loan until the end of the season. Up to now, it’s proved an inspired decision.
Heading into yesterday’s visit to Fleetwood, he’d played nine games for the buoyant south coast club – and won eight of them. And Pompey are flying on three fronts – they were sixth in League One pre-weekend, just fourth points off the top, have a mouthwatering FA Cup fifth round tie at home to Arsenal to look forward to tomorrow week and are heading to Wembley in the Leasing.com Trophy.
Buoyant
It looked like their Trophy bid was about to crumble when Exeter took the lead not once, but twice in the last 12 minutes at Fratton Park on Tuesday night, first though Jake Taylor (78 mins) and then with a Christian Burgess own goal (89).
However, holders Portsmouth – who beat Sunderland on penalties in last season’s final – refused to throw in the towel. Marcus Harness netted their first equaliser in the 86th minute and McGeehan popped up to level a second time in the first minute of injury time.
Penalties loomed, but, incredibly, there was still time for a Pompey winner, John Marquis heading home in the sixth minute of stoppage time to send the bulk of the Fratton Park crowd wild and line up a final against Salford on April 5.
“It was a crazy night,” laughs schemer McGeehan. “When we scored our first goal, we thought ‘we can get another one’, but when they scored again, you start to wonder if it will be your night. We did well to come back again.”
After a slow start to the season, Portsmouth look to be hitting their straps at the perfect time. A club record nine-match winning run was ended by Coventry a couple of weeks ago, but victories soon followed over Shrewsbury in League One, 2-0 last weekend, and that Exeter thriller.
Thriller
Kingston-born McGeehan is loving being part of it after his Barnsley misfortune.
“It was great getting promoted last season, but the team got torn apart in the summer and that was disappointing,” he said. “I signed a new contract in the summer and I didn’t know that was the plan, with players getting moves. I played the first part of the season, but they made it clear in January that I wasn’t wanted. I’m here at Portsmouth now and I feel more comfortable in the position I’m in. Kenny Jackett and Joe Gallen (assistant manager) know my strengths and I’m just really enjoying getting back playing.
“They give me freedom to play my game, whereas at Barnsley I was held back a bit more, trying to be a bit more defensive. I’m a box-to-box midfielder and they’ve just said ‘go and play your game’.”
Of course, the fact Portsmouth are having another fine season helps. McGeehan has left a Championship relegation battle for a League One promotion tilt – and knows
what it takes after going up with the Tykes last term.
“Both clubs are different, but I think we have every chance here,” said the former Luton man. “Last year at Barnsley we came from behind a little bit and we’re in a similar position now. It’s a good way of doing it – the pressure is on other teams.
“We are a really confident group and we have a lot of belief, but we have to keep pushing. Hopefully, we’ll time it well.”
As good as cup success is, McGeehan is clear in his goals for the rest of the season.
“It’s all about the league,” he admitted. “We want to get promoted and the race for automatic promotion is wide open. We are going to try to put a good run together and we have a manager who knows how to get out of this league as well.
“The cup runs are important as well - they build momentum and a feelgood factor. We have ticked the Trophy final off – we can look forward to that on the day – and Arsenal is a free hit in the FA Cup.”
Concentrate
As for his own future, it’s understandable that McGeehan wants to concentrate on the business end of the season first. He’s contracted to Barnsley until the summer of 2021 and will need to see the lie of the land in May. What divisions the Tykes and Pompey are in could be a factor.
He added: “I will look at my options in the summer – it’s not worth speaking about now. It’s about winning promotion and I’m not too worried about everything else. That will take care of itself.
“It’s all ifs, buts and maybes - I’m just concentrating on my football.”
The good news for Pompey fans is McGeehan believes he’s approaching his best.
“There’s a really good set of lads, I feel settled and we’re winning games, which always helps,” he added. “I feel I have a lot more to offer. I’ve got my fitness the last few games, I’m getting back to where I want to be physically and I want to kick on now. I’m excited, the whole club is excited and hopefully we can do well on all three fronts.”