Match ends, Newport County 1, Portsmouth 0.
NewportNewport County1PortsmouthPortsmouth0
Newport County moved into the League Two automatic promotion places thanks to Mark Byrne's second-half winner against Portsmouth.
Strikers Shaun Jeffers and Aaron O'Connor went closest for the Exiles in the first half, while midfielder Jed Wallace threatened for the visitors.
Both sides pushed for a winner after the break but Byrne settled it with a low shot from outside the box.
A fourth successive win means County move up to third, with Pompey in 17th.
Newport manager Justin Edinburgh told BBC Radio Wales:
"We're delighted [to be third]. We'll certainly enjoy being there but we know the hard work has only just begun to try and stay there.
"Our standards that we set in terms of performances, work rate and attitude have got us there and that's what has got to continue.
"[We have] taken six points off Portsmouth, the biggest club in the league.
"It's a massive achievement for our players to do the double over Portsmouth."
Portsmouth manager Andy Awford told BBC Radio Solent:
"We deserved something today and I have just looked at the stats - 17 shots compared to their eight. I have just said to the players you don't always get what you deserve and today we didn't.
"I was pleased with the whole performance - the game plan was what it was. We need to take a chance to score and that's the only criticism I have today but I am certainly not going to criticise the players, I thought they were excellent.
"We have to keep believing, I still believe massively and I look in that dressing room and I can't criticise the players for the shift they have put in.
"We have asked enough questions of them and put in a decent performance to take something from the game - anybody who tells me differently I would like to talk to them."
Line-ups
Newport
Formation 3-5-2
- 30Day
- 26Poole
- 5Jones
- 6Yakubu
- 2Jackson
- 33Byrne
- 7ChapmanSubstituted forPorterat 89'minutes
- 8MinshullSubstituted forKlukowskiat 71'minutesBooked at 83mins
- 13Sandell
- 10O'ConnorSubstituted forHoweat 86'minutes
- 14Jeffers
Substitutes
- 4Porter
- 9Howe
- 17Flynn
- 18Klukowski
- 22Owen-Evans
- 25Stephens
- 28Crow
Portsmouth
Formation 4-4-2
- 1JonesBooked at 71mins
- 2Webster
- 16Robinson
- 5Devera
- 17Shorey
- 8J Wallace
- 29HollandsBooked at 61minsSubstituted forDunneat 89'minutes
- 13ErtlSubstituted forBarchamat 74'minutes
- 25Atangana
- 9TaylorSubstituted forWestcarrat 76'minutes
- 14Tubbs
Substitutes
- 3Whatmough
- 6Chorley
- 7Barcham
- 20Westcarr
- 21Dunne
- 22Poke
- 34Butler
- Referee:
- Michael Bull
- Attendance:
- 4,575
Match Stats
Home TeamNewportAway TeamPortsmouth
- Possession
- Home54%
- Away46%
- Shots
- Home8
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away4
- Corners
- Home4
- Away8
- Fouls
- Home7
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Newport County 1, Portsmouth 0.
Post update
Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by Mark Byrne.
Post update
Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by Joe Day.
Post update
Attempt saved. Craig Westcarr (Portsmouth) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Post update
Foul by Yan Klukowski (Newport County).
Post update
Nicky Shorey (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Portsmouth. James Dunne replaces Danny Hollands.
Substitution
Substitution, Newport County. Max Porter replaces Adam Chapman.
Post update
Attempt saved. Nicky Shorey (Portsmouth) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, Newport County. Rene Howe replaces Aaron O'Connor.
Post update
Attempt missed. Nicky Shorey (Portsmouth) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right from a direct free kick.
Post update
Adam Webster (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Adam Chapman (Newport County).
Booking
Yan Klukowski (Newport County) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Attempt saved. Adam Webster (Portsmouth) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Post update
Corner, Newport County. Conceded by Andy Barcham.
Substitution
Substitution, Portsmouth. Craig Westcarr replaces Ryan Taylor.
Post update
Shaun Jeffers (Newport County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Paul Robinson (Portsmouth).
