Keeper wants regular games at Pompey
He was a surprise inclusion when the Pompey team was announced an hour before kick-off.
But after completing his move to Fratton Park, Brian Murphy kept a clean sheet on his debut in a comfortable 3-0 victory over Dagenham & Redbridge.
Kyle Bennett’s brace and a Gareth Evans header ensured a positive start to the 2015/16 campaign.
And Murphy is hoping for plenty more days like that after spending the last few years as an understudy at QPR.
The goalkeeper said: “I only got the green light to play a few minutes before the deadline on Friday.
“I had other options to look at and I’d just come to the club to keep fit – I was half ambushed into a chat with the gaffer and decided to come here.
“My agent Eamonn Collins played for Pompey a long time ago – I won’t mention what decade!
“But he knows the club and told me what a great place this would be to come and play football, with a full house every game.
“I’ve had a difficult few seasons at QPR where I haven’t played much. We were in the Premier League and there have been guys like Rob Green and Julio Cesar in front of me.
“I was number two or number three and I probably stayed too long, so hopefully I can get the games that I need now.
“Paul Jones has been a good keeper here, but it’s healthy to have competition for places in all positions.”
Murphy did not have much to deal with as Pompey dominated the Daggers for most of the match.
He said: “I was dying for a shot to save in the first few minutes, but it never came. We were in control.
“When the first goal went in the crowd drove us home and it was a comfortable three points in the end.
“There are a lot of things I can tidy up, like my kicking – that will all come with more time out on the pitch.”
Thanks to all @officialpompey for the welcome today.Great to start with a win. Incredible atmosphere.1st start in along time for me ....
— Brian Murphy (@b_murphy01gk) August 8, 2015Hectic 24 hrs but Enjoyed it.Nice to get back to clean sheets. Little to do but all going well will get better with the more I play #pompey
— Brian Murphy (@b_murphy01gk) August 8, 2015