Match ends, Portsmouth 3, Crawley Town 0.
PortsmouthPortsmouth3CrawleyCrawley Town0
Loanees Matt Clarke and Marc McNulty helped Portsmouth ease to victory over Crawley and maintain their challenge for promotion from League Two.
Clarke opened the scoring with a near-post header from Ben Davies' corner.
McNulty doubled Pompey's advantage when he powerfully rifled in Enda Stevens' low cross.
Gwion Edwards struck the bar from a free-kick for the Red Devils, but Gary Roberts added a third on the counter to put the result beyond any doubt.
Portsmouth manager Paul Cook told BBC Radio Solent:
"We got ourselves into a gear which felt good, we had numerous chances and the game probably could have been over at half time.
"The lads have done smashing over Christmas, they have worked ever so hard.
"We probably haven't got the rewards that we thought we could, after winning at Northampton, beating Crawley. The two games sandwiched in between have been disappointing."
Line-ups
Portsmouth
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 24Murphy
- 2Davies
- 4Webster
- 20Clarke
- 3StevensBooked at 88mins
- 8Doyle
- 29Hollands
- 26EvansSubstituted forTollittat 67'minutes
- 10McNultySubstituted forRobertsat 67'minutes
- 23Bennett
- 13LaverySubstituted forChaplinat 85'minutes
Substitutes
- 7McGurk
- 11Roberts
- 15Barton
- 18Tollitt
- 19Chaplin
- 25Atangana
- 35Bass
Crawley
Formation 4-5-1
- 1Flahavan
- 14Young
- 25YorwerthSubstituted forAshtonat 23'minutes
- 6Bradley
- 24Hancox
- 20Deacon
- 4WaltonBooked at 77mins
- 8SmithSubstituted forEmmanuelat 45'minutes
- 10RooneySubstituted forTomlinat 77'minutes
- 7Edwards
- 18Harrold
Substitutes
- 12Preston
- 15Fenelon
- 16Ashton
- 17Bawling
- 21Tomlin
- 22Jenkins
- 23Emmanuel
- Referee:
- Dean Whitestone
- Attendance:
- 16,606
Match Stats
Home TeamPortsmouthAway TeamCrawley
- Possession
- Home59%
- Away41%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away3
- Corners
- Home7
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home5
- Away8
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Portsmouth 3, Crawley Town 0.
Post update
Attempt saved. Ben Davies (Portsmouth) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Booking
Enda Stevens (Portsmouth) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Substitution
Substitution, Portsmouth. Conor Chaplin replaces Caolan Lavery.
Goal!
Goal! Portsmouth 3, Crawley Town 0. Gary Roberts (Portsmouth) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ben Tollitt.
Post update
Corner, Crawley Town. Conceded by Adam Webster.
Post update
Matthew Clarke (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Roarie Deacon (Crawley Town).
Post update
Attempt missed. Matt Harrold (Crawley Town) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left.
Post update
Danny Hollands (Portsmouth) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Mitch Hancox (Crawley Town).
Post update
Attempt missed. Kyle Bennett (Portsmouth) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
Post update
Attempt saved. Roarie Deacon (Crawley Town) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, Crawley Town. Gavin Tomlin replaces Luke Rooney.
Booking
Simon Walton (Crawley Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Danny Hollands (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Simon Walton (Crawley Town).
Substitution
Substitution, Portsmouth. Gary Roberts replaces Marc McNulty.
Substitution
Substitution, Portsmouth. Ben Tollitt replaces Gareth Evans.
