Fleetwood Town 2 Pompey 5
For the second Saturday running, Pompey took advantage of an early second-half red card to romp home this time netting four times without reply.
Kenny shuffled the pack with Nathan Thompson injured Anton Walkes taking his place. Ben Close and Brett Pitman replaced Oli Hawkins (Ankle) and Gareth Evans. The formation was changed too to 4-3-3.
Before the game Fleetwood boss Joey Barton had said that Pompey were not an outstanding side and that was enough to fire up the visitors after their disappointing showing at Gillingham on Boxing Day.
The visitors lost Lee Brown to injury just after the quarter hour with Brandon Haunstrup a straight replacement. Pompey started well and after 26 minutes Ben Thompson picked up a Haunstrup pass and smashed a long-range effort in off the underside of the crossbar.
However, before half time Pompey found themselves behind when Paddy Madden and a Ched Evans penalty turned the game around. Matt Clarke received his first yellow card of the season when conceding the spot kick. Pompey came close before the half time whistle when Jamal Lowe had an effort blocked.
The second period started with Pompey pushing for the equaliser and when Dean Marney fouled Thompson he was off for a second yellow card. Jackett responded by withdrawing Close and sending on Evans.
In two minutes things were turned on their head when Ronan Curtis was brought down Pitman slammed home the penalty and Walkes then put Pompey ahead with a left-foot curler from a Curtis cross.
Fleetwood stormed back and hit the woodwork twice from a corner and Tom Naylor had to hack an effort of the line. Pompey though would not be denied and Jamal Lowe put the icing of the cake with two excellent goals in the last ten minutes. Number six was almost chalked up but Clarke’s late header was well saved late in added time.
It was the first time they had hit five on the road since the 6-2 win at Cambridge United in February 2015.
With both Luton and Sunderland dropping points Pompey’s lead at the top is back to three points.
Pompey (4-3-3): MacGillivray; Walkes, Whatmough, Clarke, Brown (Haunstrup 19); B.Thompson, Naylor, Close (Evans 53); Lowe, Pitman (c), Curtis (Green 90)
Goals: Thompson 26, Pitman 57 (pen), Walkes 58, Lowe 81, 84
Booked: Clarke
Subs not used: Bass, Burgess, Wheeler, Mason
Referee: Matt Donohue
Attendance: 3,494
The loss of Lee Brown will be a blow and hopefully, it is not too serious.
PUP
