ADAM DOUBLES UP FOR COUNTY
ADAM Campbell’s double gave ten-man Notts County an impressive win at Fratton Park and boss Josh Sheridan insisted his side were full value for their victory.
This was County’s first win in five matches and continues Pompey’s ropey home form.
A goal from Campbell in either half was enough to earn all three points for the visitors, who were pegged back by Portsmouth’s Conor Chaplin minutes after taking the lead and had Aaron Collins sent off with ten minutes remaining following a late challenge on Portsmouth keeper David Forde.
“We came here with a game plan and we stuck to it,” said Sheridan.
“We know Portsmouth are a good side and when you come to somewhere like Fratton Park, you have to be prepared.
“We didn’t want to park the bus like a lot of teams do when they come here, but we had to be careful and not commit too early. They had a lot of possession, but our plan was to let them, but ensure they did nothing with it. And we did.
“We were strong, resolute and I’m proud. I don’t think anyone can argue that we didn’t deserve the three points.”
County almost took the lead inside the first ten minutes when a Richard Duffy cross found Robert Milsom whose header clipped the top of the crossbar.
County’s first came 20 minutes in from a good ball from Duffy that allowed Campbell to go one-on-one with keeper Forde and coolly lift the ball into the far corner.
Kyle Bennett then had the chance to get Portsmouth level five minutes into the second half, but his header from a Carl Baker cross went agonisingly wide.
Chaplin then equalised minutes after following some great play from Gary Roberts, but the striker’s two golden opportunities he missed beforehand were to prove crucial.
Campbell regained County’s one-goal advantage with 20 minutes left, when he capitalised on some more sloppy defending and neatly slotted home what proved to be the decisive strike at Fratton Park.
And Portsmouth boss Paul Cook was left to rue what might have been as his side failed take advantage of a strong start.
“For the first 15 minutes of the game, we dominated,” he said.
“It looked like it was a matter of time until we scored and who knows how the game could’ve gone then?
“Conor Chaplin had a few chances and probably should’ve done better and a few of the others probably should’ve made their keeper work, that’s for sure.
“I can say this and that went wron but we kept falling asleep at the back. We were letting players go past us far too easily and in this league you are eventually going to get punished.” PORTSMOUTH: (4-2-3-1): Forde 6, Evans 6, Davies 7, Burgess 7, Stevens 7 (Naismith 56, 7), Lingazi 6, Doyle 7, Baker 8, Roberts 8, Bennett 7 (Lalkovic 71, 6), Chaplin 6 (Main 68, 7) Subs not used: O’Brien, Clarke, Rose, Smith NOTTS COUNTY: (5-4-1): Collin 8, Duffy 6, Laing 6, Hollis 7, Tootle 6, Dickinson 8, Campbell 8 (Smith 88, N/A), Milsom 5, Richards 6, Forte 5 (Rodman 88, N/A), Collins 7 Subs not used: Loach, Edwards, Hewitt, Burke, O’Connor