Dull but effective for Leone Stars' Dumbuya

It was a second-half improvement which yielded another Pompey victory.

For Mustapha Dumbuya, though, the Fratton Park display was strictly below-par.

Wes Thomas and Izale McLeod (2) were the scorers in Saturday’s 3-1 success over Shrewsbury.

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All four goals came in the second half as the Blues climbed up to 11th in the League One table.

The Fratton faithful could never have anticipated the final scoreline after a stale first-half showing.

Nonetheless, it was a fourth league win in their past five matches as they maintain their form.

Dumbuya said: ‘It wasn’t the best of games to watch in the first half and I don’t think it was in the second half, either.

‘Sometimes you have got to win games like that.

‘You have got to grind it out.

‘It’s not all the time you can play football to win a game.

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‘After the break I actually think we got a few more players involved in the game that weren’t involved first half.

‘I got a bit more of the ball so it was better than the first half, but certainly not the best we’ve played.

‘We ground it out and in the second half came out stronger and kept the ball well.

‘We were taking too many touches in the first half in areas we shouldn’t do and I don’t think we had enough discipline.

‘But we got the result we wanted.’

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For Dumbuya it was a return to the side having missed the previous two matches through international duty with Sierre Leone.

He was named at left-back against the Shrews, with Lee Williamson continuing at right-back.

And once again he was left to marvel at the strike partnership in front of him which continues to plunder the goals.

He added: ‘Izale and Wes have got a bit of a partnership going at the minute.

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‘Ever since Wes came into the team you have seen the difference.

‘We are holding the ball well so the midfielders can join in and the back four can squeeze up.

‘It’s a great partnership which scores goals, which you want from your strikers.

‘Everyone is gelling, there are some good players in the team and it is coming together.

‘And in Wes we have someone who has come in and I really think has made a big difference for us.’

– NEIL ALLEN