AFC Bournemouth
Young striker Christian Saydee has spoken after his brace in yesterday’s 5-1 win at Eastleigh.
Shaun Cooper’s side came out on top in the friendly at the Silverlake, with the forward hitting two after coming on at half-time.
It rounded off a good seven days for Saydee, who also bagged against Moneyfields in last week’s Hampshire Senior Cup semi-final win.
The 18-year-old sat down with afcb.co.uk after the game to discuss his goals and life in the under-21s.
“It was a good win and I’m pleased to get on the scoresheet,” he began.
“For the first one, I think Jaidon [Anthony] has seen that I'm in the pocket and I think I just felt where the defender was, rolled him and then got my shot off quickly. Luckily, it managed to go in the goal!
“The second one, I've run off the back of the defender. Nathan [Moriah-Welsh] has put a good ball in and the defender picked it up, but I just carried on going.
“I just pressed him, put him under pressure and eventually I got round him, went past the ‘keeper and then Jaidon wanted me to square it but I knew I could finish it off!
“One of my strengths is holding up the ball and using my body, and I've been trying to work on running in behind. That hard work has paid off today.
“I've been trying to get on the scoresheet in every game. Jaidon, Nnamdi [Ofoborh] and JZ [Jordan Zemura] they're all battering me to score – Jaidon still thinks that I should've squared my second one though!”
Saydee, who broke into a smile as manager Cooper walked past saying “you should’ve had a hat-trick”, went on to discuss the impact of his loan spell at Poole.
He believes the regular minutes and more physical challenge of coming up against men on a weekly basis has really benefitted his game.
“I think going out on loan has helped me find out ways to get on the ball and use my body well,” he continued.
“I think at first I found it hard coming up against people who are bigger and stronger than me because I like to use my strengths. When they're stronger than me, it's much harder.
“I also needed the gametime considering last year I was injured, so being at Poole has really helped that. I've just been trying to find my feet again, so it's been good.”
However, it’s not just out on loan where Saydee believes he is developing, citing those around him in the under-21s as being crucial to his progress.
“The older lads in the squad like Nnamdi, JZ, Jaidon, Gav [Kilkenny] and Dinesh [Gillela] are really looking after me and they're showing me the right way to do things. It’s really helped me settle.
“Even today, Chaz [Charlie Daniels] is always talking and always helping me. Pughie always gives me an option too and I think I've worked well with him in the times that I've played with him. It's just so valuable being around them.
“I just want to keep scoring and hopefully break into the first team and I'll keep going until I get my chance.”
Photo credit: Jon Ashworth
