Pack stepped up, and he did a job!

Pompey are very much in a 'needs must' situation, so this is seeing a number of youngsters given a chance that they 'probably' would not have otherwise.

Ok, they are raw and can make mistakes - it is also a baptism of fire, although I know that I am more than happy to see these guys, and most of them are local too, getting a chance and doing their very best to take it.

Pride, passion and commitment, or 'PPC', means a lot to me as a paying punter, so seeing this is something I want and to be fair, on the whole, we are seeing a fair amount of this from most with the youngsters seemingly showing a particular amount of this.

So, someone that I think 'might', again maybe because we need to as opposed to anything else, see involved a little more now, having made his debut on Tuesday night, is Marlon Pack.

I thought the guy came on and did a decent job - he, like the other local youngsters, certainly looks up for it and wants to be involved.

He made some decent runs from midfield and filled in well on the right hand side - which is not really his natural position, giving us something different, as well as showing some decent skill and providing some good crosses into the box. He of course also took a quality penalty when the pressure was very much on him.

I would 'think' he would have taken plenty from that performance to enhance his confidence, and rightly so.

As much as I like Joel Ward I would hope that Steve Cotterill turns to a more naturally able midfielder in Pack in the future if needed having been given a glance what he can do against championship opposition, and it was a decent Palace side we faced.

That said I would say there is a very good chance that Ward will start at right back this weekend as Hayden Mullins 'seems' to be really struggling with his injury now...

PLAY UP POMPEY!

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