Pompey 2 Southend United 0
Pompey strolled to three more points yesterday afternoon with a routine 2-0 win over Sarfend.
Kenny made just one change from the Rochdale cup win with Tom Naylor back for Ben Close. Louis Dennis had done enough in midweek to earn a place among the subs.
The conditions were such that good football was bound to be difficult. A strong wind was blowing down the pitch and heavy persistent drizzle was swirling in the gale. Pompey though took no notice of that and playing into the wind and the Fratton End produced a wonderful first-half display, one which showed why they are now six points clear at the top of League One.
It was no surprise when Pompey went ahead on eleven minutes Gareth Evans set up Ronan Curtis and his cross was turned into his own net by Turner under pressure from Oli Hawkins.
After that Matt Clarke headed over when he should have scored and Hawkins had a header that went just wide of the left-hand post.
The second came when another cross from Curtis on the break was headed against the far post and into the net by Jamal Lowe.
Pompey then had a good shout for a penalty when a defender appeared to knock down a Lowe cross.
After the break, the visitors had more of the ball but created little Pompey had the two best chances when Curtis stung the keepers hands and on the break, Lowe fed Close – on for Evans – and he should have scored missing from six yards.
Pompey (4-1-4-1): MacGillivray; N.Thompson, Whatmough, Clarke, Brown; Naylor; Lowe, B.Thompson (Pitman 89), Evans (c) (Close 73), Curtis; Hawkins
Goals: Turner 11 (og), Lowe 29
Booked: B.Thompson
Subs not used: McGee, Walkes, Burgess, Dennis, Green
Referee: Lee Collins
Attendance: 18,062 (726 away fans)
With the game between Accrington and Sunderland abandoned after 75 with a flooded pitch when the score was 1-1 – the game will have now be played again, Luton moved up to second place six points behind Pompey but the Hatters have played a game more.
PUP
