Match ends, Newport County 0, Portsmouth 1.
NewportNewport County0PortsmouthPortsmouth1
Portsmouth won for the fifth time away from home this season to consign bottom club Newport to their ninth defeat.
Matt Tubbs scored the decisive goal, and his sixth this season, in first-half stoppage time when he converted Kyle Bennett's pass from eight yards.
Newport's Lenell John-Lewis had a header ruled out for a foul in the build-up but the home side struggled to create any meaningful chances.
Tubbs had chances to score again but one proved enough for the three points.
Newport County manager John Sheridan told BBC Radio Wales:
"There was nothing between the sides in the first half, I was happy with the way things were going.
"The difference was the naivety of some of our play at times, just giving the ball away when we had good position and making ourselves vulnerable.
"They had the players who didn't ignore the simple things, which makes good players. But our work-rate was really good."
Portsmouth manager Paul Cook told BBC Radio Solent:
"I'm pleased with the win, not pleased with the performance. I didn't think we played very well. I thought we were very fortunate to go in 1-0 at half time. I thought we were very sloppy in the first half.
"It was nice to keep a clean sheet today, some of the goals we have conceded have disappointed me.
"We missed Garrett Evans' energy today and that was there for all to see. We are just hoping to put a performance together that everyone can be proud of, but at the moment we are just like a stuttering engine, we are just not firing."
Line-ups
Newport
Formation 3-5-2
- 30Day
- 12Donacien
- 18Bennett
- 21Partridge
- 24Barnum-Bobb
- 33Byrne
- 4O'Sullivan
- 7Elito
- 3BarrowBooked at 46minsSubstituted forRodmanat 65'minutes
- 9AnsahSubstituted forBodenat 59'minutes
- 10John-LewisSubstituted forCollinsat 64'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Taylor
- 2Holmes
- 6Taylor
- 8Klukowski
- 19Boden
- 23Rodman
- 39Collins
Portsmouth
Formation 4-5-1
- 27McCarey
- 2Davies
- 6Burgess
- 4Webster
- 3StevensBooked at 85mins
- 14NaismithSubstituted forBocoat 59'minutes
- 8Doyle
- 11Roberts
- 23Bennett
- 15BartonSubstituted forHollandsat 68'minutes
- 9TubbsSubstituted forLaveryat 75'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Boco
- 13Lavery
- 19Chaplin
- 20Clarke
- 24Murphy
- 25Atangana
- 29Hollands
- Referee:
- James Adcock
- Attendance:
- 3,298
Match Stats
Home TeamNewportAway TeamPortsmouth
- Possession
- Home41%
- Away59%
- Shots
- Home5
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home1
- Away2
- Corners
- Home2
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home15
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Newport County 0, Portsmouth 1.
Post update
Enda Stevens (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Alex Rodman (Newport County).
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Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by Scott Bennett.
Booking
Enda Stevens (Portsmouth) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Enda Stevens (Portsmouth).
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Jazzi Barnum-Bobb (Newport County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Christian Burgess (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Scott Boden (Newport County).
Post update
Attempt missed. Medy Elito (Newport County) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
Post update
Corner, Newport County. Conceded by Enda Stevens.
Substitution
Substitution, Portsmouth. Caolan Lavery replaces Matt Tubbs.
Post update
Attempt missed. Mark Byrne (Newport County) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
Post update
Foul by Danny Hollands (Portsmouth).
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Tommy O'Sullivan (Newport County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Portsmouth. Danny Hollands replaces Adam Barton.
Post update
Mark Byrne (Newport County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Kyle Bennett (Portsmouth).
Post update
Foul by Tommy O'Sullivan (Newport County).
