Match ends, Portsmouth 2, Rochdale 1.
PortsmouthPortsmouth2RochdaleRochdale1
Portsmouth boss Danny Cowley maintained his 100% record as the promotion hopefuls cemented their place in the top six with a comfortable win over bottom club Rochdale.
Goals from Ryan Williams and Ronan Curtis made it three wins from three since Cowley took charge at Fratton Park.
Jake Beesley's stoppage-time strike proved no more than a consolation goal for the visitors.
Despite playing without a recognised striker, Pompey took just five minutes to open the scoring.
Marcus Harness picked out Williams with a perfectly-weighted cross and the Australian tapped home from close range.
The home side doubled their lead eight minutes before half-time when Curtis finished calmly after racing onto a Michael Jacobs through ball.
Rochdale's only chance of the first half came in the final minute when Beesley latched onto a long ball but was foiled by Pompey goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray.
Beesley's close-range effort in the third minute of stoppage time proved too little too late for Dale to mount an unlikely comeback.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Portsmouth
Formation 4-4-2
- 1MacGillivray
- 2Johnson
- 6Whatmough
- 20Raggett
- 3Brown
- 19HarnessSubstituted forCannonat 82'minutes
- 4Naylor
- 8CloseSubstituted forDanielsat 87'minutes
- 24JacobsSubstituted forWhiteat 65'minutes
- 7WilliamsBooked at 76mins
- 11Curtis
Substitutes
- 13Bolton
- 14Cannon
- 15Nicolaisen
- 16Byers
- 21Daniels
- 22Ward
- 23White
Rochdale
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Bazunu
- 6O'Connell
- 5McShaneSubstituted forRobertsat 53'minutes
- 3Osho
- 13KeohaneBooked at 24minsSubstituted forNewbyat 82'minutes
- 19ShaughnessySubstituted forDooleyat 68'minutes
- 14Rathbone
- 17GrantSubstituted forMorleyat 53'minutes
- 16Done
- 11Beesley
- 22Baah
Substitutes
- 4McNulty
- 7Dooley
- 8Morley
- 10Newby
- 12Lynch
- 15Roberts
- 23Hopper
- Referee:
- Lee Swabey
Match Stats
Home TeamPortsmouthAway TeamRochdale
- Possession
- Home60%
- Away40%
- Shots
- Home7
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away3
- Corners
- Home5
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home13
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Portsmouth 2, Rochdale 1.
Goal!
Goal! Portsmouth 2, Rochdale 1. Jake Beesley (Rochdale) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Alex Newby.
Post update
Foul by Andrew Cannon (Portsmouth).
Post update
Eoghan O'Connell (Rochdale) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Andrew Cannon (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Eoghan O'Connell (Rochdale).
Post update
Attempt missed. Aaron Morley (Rochdale) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Kwadwo Baah.
Substitution
Substitution, Portsmouth. Charlie Daniels replaces Ben Close because of an injury.
Post update
Foul by Ronan Curtis (Portsmouth).
Post update
Gabriel Osho (Rochdale) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Ronan Curtis (Portsmouth).
Post update
Oliver Rathbone (Rochdale) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Rochdale. Alex Newby replaces Jimmy Keohane.
Substitution
Substitution, Portsmouth. Andrew Cannon replaces Marcus Harness.
Post update
Hand ball by Ronan Curtis (Portsmouth).
Post update
Corner, Rochdale. Conceded by Jack Whatmough.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Jake Beesley (Rochdale) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is blocked. Assisted by Matt Done.
Booking
Ryan Williams (Portsmouth) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Ryan Williams (Portsmouth).
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