Match ends, Newport County 1, Portsmouth 2.
NewportNewport County1PortsmouthPortsmouth2
Portsmouth claimed a crucial win in their relegation struggle at a Newport County side who had two men sent off.
Newport went behind when Kevin Feely fouled Ryan Taylor in the area and the striker converted the penalty himself.
Adam Chapman was then shown a straight red card for a two-footed lunge, while Darcy Blake was also sent off late on after the defender's second booking.
Jed Wallace's header doubled Pompey's lead although Ismail Yakubu did pull a goal back for County from a corner.
Newport County manager Justin Edinburgh told BBC Radio Wales:
"I'm proud of the players; even down to nine men we took the game to Portsmouth and I thought we might have deserved to get something out of it.
"The two yellow cards for Darcy Blake, that just happens in a game and we're disappointed with Adam Chapman, it's so out of character and it's cost us dearly
"If you take the penalty and the sending-off out of the game - which was a mistake really - in the context of the game we were very good, I thought we controlled it and played a large majority of the game in Portsmouth's half."
Portsmouth caretaker manager Andy Awford told BBC Radio Solent:
"I actually enjoyed it. I think the lads' attitude, their spirit, their togetherness was fantastic and that was just what was needed.
"The result was all that mattered today. How we got there didn't matter but we got a performance as well today.
"We got a spirit, we got a reaction and we got the three points.
"If I've got a criticism of us today it was probably that we didn't keep the ball well enough when they went down to nine men.
"The confidence hasn't been great for obvious reasons and hopefully now that will improve."
Line-ups
Newport
Formation 4-4-2
- 33McLoughlin
- 19NaylorSubstituted forSandellat 86'minutes
- 3Hughes
- 8Minshull
- 20FeelySubstituted forYakubuat 55'minutes
- 16BlakeBooked at 83mins
- 7ChapmanBooked at 27mins
- 12Willmott
- 9CrowSubstituted forJeffersat 57'minutes
- 11ZebroskiBooked at 41mins
- 17Flynn
Substitutes
- 4Porter
- 6Yakubu
- 13Sandell
- 14Jeffers
- 23Jolley
- 24Amadi-Holloway
- 45Howe
Portsmouth
Formation 4-4-2
- 40Carson
- 3N'Gala
- 36WhatmoughSubstituted forBradleyat 63'minutes
- 13ErtlSubstituted forAgyemangat 80'minutes
- 15Alfei
- 17Shorey
- 11Holmes
- 19FogdenBooked at 90mins
- 20TaylorBooked at 27minsSubstituted forJervisat 53'minutes
- 35J Wallace
- 29HollandsBooked at 75mins
Substitutes
- 1Smith
- 5Devera
- 6Bradley
- 23Agyemang
- 31Racon
- 32Jervis
- 33McCabe
- Referee:
- Steve Bratt
- Attendance:
- 4,261
Match Stats
Home TeamNewportAway TeamPortsmouth
- Possession
- Home52%
- Away48%
- Shots
- Home8
- Away7
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away4
- Corners
- Home9
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away18
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Newport County 1, Portsmouth 2.
Post update
Attempt missed. Ricky Holmes (Portsmouth) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right.
Booking
Wes Fogden (Portsmouth) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Ismail Yakubu (Newport County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Wes Fogden (Portsmouth).
Post update
Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by Andrew Hughes.
Substitution
Substitution, Newport County. Andy Sandell replaces Tom Naylor.
Post update
Foul by Robbie Willmott (Newport County).
Post update
Ricky Holmes (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Corner, Newport County. Conceded by Sonny Bradley.
Post update
Corner, Newport County. Conceded by Bondz N'Gala.
Post update
Robbie Willmott (Newport County) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Foul by Jake Jervis (Portsmouth).
Dismissal
Second yellow card to Darcy Blake (Newport County).
Post update
Foul by Darcy Blake (Newport County).
Post update
Patrick Agyemang (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Ismail Yakubu (Newport County) header from the left side of the box misses to the left.
Substitution
Substitution, Portsmouth. Patrick Agyemang replaces Johannes Ertl.
Post update
Danny Hollands (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
