Match ends, Northampton Town 1, Portsmouth 2.
NorthamptonNorthampton Town1PortsmouthPortsmouth2
Portsmouth came from behind to win at in-form Northampton and close within one point of the automatic promotion places in League Two.
Defender Ryan Cresswell had headed the hosts ahead with a thumping effort from Joel Byron's corner.
Gareth Evans had Pompey level before half-time when he headed in Marc McNulty's cross on 32 minutes.
Substitute Conor Chaplin proved Portsmouth's match-winner as he finished Ben Tollitt's initial shot.
Northampton Town manager Chris Wilder told BBC Radio Northampton:
"It was a tough one for us, we wanted to take the game to Portsmouth, but they have great quality.
"The windy conditions allowed them to play higher up the pitch, but it's a scandal that they managed to score from our corner.
"As I said before the game, anyone who finishes above Portsmouth will go up this season; and that's no spin."
Portsmouth assistant manager Leam Richardson told BBC Radio Solent:
"I think when you win they're always big results. We've come to Northampton, a very good team. It's been a good game today.
"I thought we got on the ascendancy the second half.
"They certainly posed a threat throughout the game but to get the result and get the goals and see the belief coming through the lads, especially when we went 1-0 down, was fantastic."
Line-ups
Northampton
- 1Smith
- 2Moloney
- 5DiamondSubstituted forHoskinsat 90+1'minutes
- 6CresswellBooked at 45mins
- 16Buchanan
- 8Byrom
- 21O'TooleBooked at 23mins
- 7D'AthBooked at 37mins
- 10AdamsSubstituted forCalvert-Lewinat 57'minutes
- 15PotterSubstituted forHolmesat 64'minutes
- 9Richards
Substitutes
- 4Taylor
- 11Holmes
- 12Lelan
- 14Hoskins
- 18McDonald
- 20Calvert-Lewin
- 26Clarke
Portsmouth
- 24Murphy
- 2Davies
- 4Webster
- 20Clarke
- 3Stevens
- 29Hollands
- 8Doyle
- 26Evans
- 10McNultyBooked at 45minsSubstituted forMcGurkat 80'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 23BennettSubstituted forTollittat 76'minutes
- 13LaverySubstituted forChaplinat 85'minutes
Substitutes
- 7McGurk
- 15Barton
- 18Tollitt
- 19Chaplin
- 33Close
- 35Bass
- 38Haunstrup
- Referee:
- Fred Graham
- Attendance:
- 5,859
Match Stats
Home TeamNorthamptonAway TeamPortsmouth
- Possession
- Home45%
- Away55%
- Shots
- Home7
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away7
- Corners
- Home10
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away2
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Northampton Town 1, Portsmouth 2.
Post update
Brendon Moloney (Northampton Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Ben Tollitt (Portsmouth).
Booking
Adam McGurk (Portsmouth) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Ricky Holmes (Northampton Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Adam McGurk (Portsmouth).
Substitution
Substitution, Northampton Town. Sam Hoskins replaces Zander Diamond.
Post update
Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Northampton Town) hits the bar with a header from the centre of the box.
Post update
Corner, Northampton Town. Conceded by Enda Stevens.
Goal!
Goal! Northampton Town 1, Portsmouth 2. Conor Chaplin (Portsmouth) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner.
Substitution
Substitution, Portsmouth. Conor Chaplin replaces Caolan Lavery.
Post update
Corner, Northampton Town. Conceded by Ben Davies.
Post update
Ryan Cresswell (Northampton Town) hits the bar with a header from very close range.
Post update
Corner, Northampton Town. Conceded by Gareth Evans.
Post update
Corner, Northampton Town. Conceded by Matthew Clarke.
Substitution
Substitution, Portsmouth. Adam McGurk replaces Marc McNulty.
Post update
Attempt missed. John-Joe O'Toole (Northampton Town) header from very close range is too high.
Post update
Corner, Northampton Town. Conceded by Michael Doyle.
Post update
Attempt saved. Brendon Moloney (Northampton Town) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
