Match ends, Northampton Town 0, Portsmouth 1.
NorthamptonNorthampton Town0PortsmouthPortsmouth1
Danny East's early goal was enough to earn victory for Portsmouth and ensure Northampton remain in the relegation zone with two games of the season left.
East struck after minutes, volleying over keeper Matt Duke from 10 yards.
Sonny Bradley wasted a good headed chance to make it 2-0 while Emile Sinclair and Darren Carter missed decent chances for the Cobblers.
The hosts dominated the second half but could not find a breakthrough and stay in the bottom two on goal difference.
Northampton are level with Bristol Rovers and Wycombe on 47 points, who also both lost.
Exeter are two points ahead after losing to bottom-of-the-table side Torquay United.
Portsmouth caretaker manager Andy Awford told BBC Radio Solent:
"The run we've had has been absolutely fantastic and the players deserve massive credit for what they've managed to achieve in the last five games.
"It just shows you how tight this league is. When we took over we were looking over our shoulders worried about the trap door, but thankfully that's gone away now and we can hopefully start to look upwards.
"I didn't pick the team to make it easy for anybody and I felt that the right thing to do today was freshen it up and luckily it worked today.
"I've got plans in my head in case I am manager here next season but there's no point going any further until I know what the situation is."
Line-ups
Northampton
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 1Duke
- 2McSweeneySubstituted forMorrisat 45'minutes
- 25HorwoodBooked at 72mins
- 29RobertsonBooked at 87mins
- 27Kouo-Doumbe
- 12Tozer
- 34RavenhillSubstituted forLangmeadat 81'minutes
- 4Carter
- 11Hackett
- 7SinclairSubstituted forToneyat 45'minutesBooked at 56mins
- 9Marquis
Substitutes
- 5Langmead
- 8Morris
- 13Snedker
- 17Deegan
- 18Connell
- 20Moyo
- 24Toney
Portsmouth
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 40CarsonBooked at 72mins
- 17ShoreyBooked at 90mins
- 15Alfei
- 13Ertl
- 5Devera
- 6Bradley
- 4EastSubstituted forHolmesat 78'minutes
- 19Fogden
- 23AgyemangSubstituted forDrennanat 65'minutes
- 35J Wallace
- 32JervisSubstituted forHollandsat 54'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Smith
- 3N'Gala
- 11Holmes
- 22Webster
- 28Drennan
- 29Hollands
- 33McCabe
- Referee:
- Darren Deadman
- Attendance:
- 6,829
Match Stats
Home TeamNorthamptonAway TeamPortsmouth
- Possession
- Home55%
- Away45%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away5
- Shots on Target
- Home9
- Away3
- Corners
- Home8
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Northampton Town 0, Portsmouth 1.
Post update
Corner, Northampton Town. Conceded by Trevor Carson.
Post update
Attempt saved. Kelvin Langmead (Northampton Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Corner, Northampton Town. Conceded by Daniel Alfei.
Booking
Nicky Shorey (Portsmouth) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Chris Hackett (Northampton Town).
Post update
Ricky Holmes (Portsmouth) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Attempt saved. Kelvin Langmead (Northampton Town) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Ben Tozer (Northampton Town) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Michael Drennan (Portsmouth).
Booking
Gregor Robertson (Northampton Town) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Gregor Robertson (Northampton Town).
Post update
Michael Drennan (Portsmouth) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Attempt saved. Jed Wallace (Portsmouth) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Corner, Northampton Town. Conceded by Nicky Shorey.
Substitution
Substitution, Northampton Town. Kelvin Langmead replaces Richard Ravenhill.
Post update
Foul by John Marquis (Northampton Town).
Post update
Sonny Bradley (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Richard Ravenhill (Northampton Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
