Shrewsbury Town lose out to Portsmouth at Fratton Park.
Pompey: Alex Bass, Tom Naylor, Christian Burgess, Ronan Curtis (Ryan Williams, 89), James Bolton (John Marquis, 58), Marcus Harness, Sean Raggett, Ellis Harrison, Cameron McGeehan, Gareth Evans (Ross McCrorie, 58), Steve Seddon.
Subs: Craig Macgillivray, Lee Brown, Ryan Williams, John Marquis, Ross McCrorie, Jack Whatmough, Ben Close.
Town: Max O’Leary, Aaron Pierre, Dave Edwards, Ro-Shaun Williams, Omar Beckles, Conor McAleny (Jason Cummings, 67), Sean Goss, Dan Udoh (Callum Lang, 67), Ethan Ebanks-Landell, Josh Laurent, Sam Hart (Kayne Ramsay, 45).
Subs: Harry Burgoyne, Scott Golbourne, Callum Lang, Ryan Sears, Donald Love, Kayne Ramsay, Jason Cummings.
Referee: Lee Swabey
Assistants: Leigh Crowhurst and Mark Derrien
Fourth official: Stephen Brown
Attendance: 18,214 (319)
Town’s afternoon in Pompey ended in disappointment, as the Shrews couldn’t secure any points against Kenny Jackett’s team.
Ellis Harrison and John Marquis were the pair who notched the goals to keep all three points at Fratton Park.
First Half:
Town’s afternoon against top-six Pompey got underway with both teams looking to progress forward and create chances. As well as the home team, Town were having positive spells in the final-third. Conor McAleny continued to use his pace and dribbling to cause problems
Two players were booked for Town within the first 20 minutes. Ro-Shaun Williams and Ethan Ebanks-Landell were both shown yellow cards for fouls in the middle of the park.
Ellis Harrison came close to putting the home side in the lead with just under 30 minutes on the clock. Marcus Harness fired in a great low-driven ball but the Portsmouth number 22 couldn’t find the target from close range.
McAleny stung the palms of Alex Bass in the 34th minute after a strong effort. The forward created a yard of space for himself just inside the box and forced the Pompey keeper into a diving save.
Neither team were able to notch an opening goal in the first-half and the two teams went into the break all square.
Second Half:
Christian Burgess was shown a yellow card shortly after play resumed. Dan Udoh smartly dribbled past his man but was brought to the ground by the defender. The resulting free-kick narrowly missed the target for Salop.
Town were knocking on the door and nearly found a way through in the 55th minute. Kayne Ramsay found himself in great space on the wing and narrowly missed a Town forward with his driven cross.
Just seconds later McAleny managed to test the Pompey keeper again. The forward latched onto a poorly cleared ball and found the target with a half-volley. Unfortunately for Town, the keeper was equal to the effort and parried the ball away to safety.
The home side were the team who managed to find the break though goal. Ellis Harrison met a cross near the back post to head home the opener in the 64th minute for Pompey.
Kenny Jackett’s men began to have more chances as the clock ticked towards the 90th minute. Pompey’s pressure eventually told as the home side managed to double the lead. John Marquis found space in the Town box and slotted home into the right corner of the net.
Sean Goss was shown a yellow card in the latter stages of the game for a foul on Marquis.
The game came to an end with Town unable to secure any points against the home side.