Former Blues striker Ellis Harrison insists there was no extra incentive to impress during Portsmouth’s 1-0 victory over his old club on Saturday and that he remains on good terms with his former team-mates.

The 25-year-old, who put in what was regarded as his best performance for Pompey on Saturday, left Portman Road for Fratton Park in the summer for £450,000 after a frustrating injury-hit year with Town, having scored only once in nine starts and eight sub appearances.

“There wasn’t any extra incentive. It was more about bouncing back from last week [when Portsmouth lost 4-1 at Accrington],” the Welshman told the Portsmouth News.

“But obviously it does feel better when you don’t get given a chance there and you come here and the manager has faith in me. It was good to repay him with that on Saturday.

“I've started the past seven league games and I’m still to be at my best and be doing it week in, week out. I’m doing it in blips at the moment, which isn’t good enough for my standards.

"I work hard every game, I’ll always work hard for the team and it is good to almost get repaid for working hard — although you’ve got to work hard whether there’s one fan in the stadium of 18,000.

"They’ll get behind you if they see you working hard and that's what football is about."

Harrison, who has scored eight goals this season, had a combative afternoon, clashing with a number of his former team-mates over the course of the game.

The Newport-born frontman was booked for a painful-looking late tackle on his former skipper Luke Chambers in the opening seconds and might have been shown a second yellow card for another foul on the central defender just before half-time.

But ultimately it was the Blues captain who saw red in the closing stages for a foul on the former Bristol Rovers man.

However, Harrison says relations with Chambers and the rest of his old squad remain good.

“I took a few and I gave a few. I spoke to those boys before and after the game,” he added.

“But come 3pm, there are no friends. I’m not going to be friendly because I want the three points and they weren’t going to be friendly to me.

"I’ll get on the phone and I’ll speak to Chambo and the boys like nothing has happened.”

Photo: PagePix

ChateauWines added 10:07 - Dec 23 I've never seen a player so up for it against a former club. He put more effort in Saturday than ever did for us. Perhaps that's why we let him go. Ex player so who cares?
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bobbyramsey added 10:23 - Dec 23 I'd take Harrison over Keane any day of the week.
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MrTown added 10:36 - Dec 23 “But obviously it does feel better when you don't get given a chance there and you come here and the manager has faith in me. It was good to repay him with that on Saturday." Hurst gave him gametime IIRC, so has to be a little jab at Lambo.
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ITFCsince73 added 11:28 - Dec 23 Bargain at 450k.
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ITFCsince73 added 11:33 - Dec 23 Bobby. I'd take me over Keane, and I haven't played for 30 yrs.
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TimmyH added 12:08 - Dec 23 Harrison is much more of a footballer than Keane, through a season Keane might score you more goals but personally feel Ellis should have stayed.
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runningout added 13:12 - Dec 23 Ellis Harrison didn't wow anyone here. He was wanted by Pompey and that says it all. We have at least four first team players that still ain't wowing anyone, but doubt there's a queue of bidders
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MaySixth added 13:52 - Dec 23 I went to Fratton Park. Harrison is all effort but no intelligence.
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TR11BLU added 15:05 - Dec 23 Dirty, cheating, no hoper
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davidsuperg added 15:52 - Dec 23 Keane hasn't been properly fit for 2 seasons or so. He obviously has some talent in there somewhere or fergie wouldn't have kept him so long. Maybe just needs a few games to get match fit ang a goal or 2 for confidence. I don't see how he gets the stick all the time when having seen him Norwood and Jackson over the last few games I can't see who's better. Sears will be back soon and add to the compitition along with Morris and folami so we should be OK for a promotion push, although it could be play offs. Let's just keep getting behind the team as we have all season. COYB

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davidsuperg added 15:52 - Dec 23 Keane hasn't been properly fit for 2 seasons or so. He obviously has some talent in there somewhere or fergie wouldn't have kept him so long. Maybe just needs a few games to get match fit ang a goal or 2 for confidence. I don't see how he gets the stick all the time when having seen him Norwood and Jackson over the last few games I can't see who's better. Sears will be back soon and add to the compitition along with Morris and folami so we should be OK for a promotion push, although it could be play offs. Let's just keep getting behind the team as we have all season. COYB

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Bluesaway added 16:56 - Dec 23 Much as I question the forward line who all seem to have dried up in front of goal at the same time, I do question the service they're receiving and the lack of a goal scoring attacking midfielder in support. We don't have a 10-12 goal a season midfielder, nor have we had one for some time, and that makes such a difference. I think Harrison was capable but we lacked a settled forward line or formation last season, and the one up front didn't work as we lacked any threat from midfield. I believe we need more creativity out wide (prefer Garbutt on left wing) and a goal threat following in behind the strikers (yes, two, and not a lone man adrift of the midfield!).

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herfie added 18:30 - Dec 23 Harrison, like Saturday's game, is history. Little to be gained by chewing over the gristle. Move onwards - and hopefully upwards, if the fall-out from the recent ‘clear the air' session is positive action, and not yet more words!
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Dissblue added 19:20 - Dec 23 I don't think he'll be on Luke Chambers' Christmas card list!
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Pezzer added 15:16 - Dec 24 Never looked like scoring though.
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