Match ends, Walsall 0, Portsmouth 1.
WalsallWalsall0PortsmouthPortsmouth1
Portsmouth moved to within two points of the play-off places with a third successive win as they beat struggling Walsall 1-0 to consign new boss Dean Keates to a second straight loss in charge.
The visitors controlled the first half and Ben Close should have done better than scuff a close-range volley straight at Walsall goalkeeper Liam Roberts from Gareth Evans' 12th-minute cross.
Pompey's 18-goal top scorer Brett Pitman twice glanced headers wide while Close volleyed off-target when Dion Donohue's long throw found him free inside the area.
Portsmouth continued to dominate after the break, Kal Naismith whipping a vicious effort inches wide from 20 yards and seeing another shot flash across goal and just past the post.
Walsall took until the 73rd minute to threaten as Luke Leahy's cross was met by a first-time Amadou Bakayoko volley that flew just over.
But Pompey deservedly won it six minutes later as Jamal Lowe teed-up Evans to fizz a fine strike into the bottom corner from 18 yards and condemn Walsall to a sixth defeat in their last seven.
Match report supplied by the Press Association.
Line-ups
Walsall
Formation 4-4-2
- 13Roberts
- 6DevlinBooked at 36mins
- 23Fitzwater
- 5GuthrieBooked at 76mins
- 3Leahy
- 10OztumerSubstituted forShaibuat 83'minutes
- 7Chambers
- 8CuvelierSubstituted forDobsonat 72'minutes
- 11MorrisBooked at 87mins
- 18NgoySubstituted forKouhyarat 67'minutes
- 20BakayokoBooked at 58mins
Substitutes
- 1Gillespie
- 4Dobson
- 15Kinsella
- 16Shaibu
- 17Flanagan
- 24Roberts
- 25Kouhyar
Portsmouth
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1McGee
- 2WalkesBooked at 86mins
- 5Clarke
- 16Whatmough
- 17DonohueBooked at 43mins
- 20Thompson
- 18Lowe
- 26Evans
- 33CloseSubstituted forRonanat 77'minutes
- 22Naismith
- 8Pitman
Substitutes
- 6Burgess
- 7O'Keefe
- 9Hawkins
- 11Kennedy
- 14Ronan
- 35Bass
- 38Haunstrup
- Referee:
- Darren Handley
- Attendance:
- 5,159
Match Stats
Home TeamWalsallAway TeamPortsmouth
- Possession
- Home52%
- Away48%
- Shots
- Home6
- Away16
- Shots on Target
- Home1
- Away6
- Corners
- Home2
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home15
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Walsall 0, Portsmouth 1.
Post update
Attempt missed. Maz Kouhyar (Walsall) header from very close range is close, but misses to the left.
Post update
Corner, Walsall. Conceded by Jack Whatmough.
Post update
Jon Guthrie (Walsall) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Nathan Thompson (Portsmouth).
Post update
Foul by Amadou Bakayoko (Walsall).
Post update
Nathan Thompson (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Booking
Kieron Morris (Walsall) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Kieron Morris (Walsall).
Post update
Nathan Thompson (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Anton Walkes (Portsmouth) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Attempt missed. Amadou Bakayoko (Walsall) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Post update
Foul by Kieron Morris (Walsall).
Post update
Nathan Thompson (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Walsall. Justin Shaibu replaces Erhun Oztumer.
Post update
Adam Chambers (Walsall) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Connor Ronan (Portsmouth).
Goal!
Goal! Walsall 0, Portsmouth 1. Gareth Evans (Portsmouth) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Jamal Lowe.
Post update
Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by Liam Roberts.
