Portsmouth 1-0 Reading

Portsmouth   1 - 0   Reading

Portsmouth 1-0 Reading

Portsmouth 1-0 Reading

Portsmouth earned their first win of the season with a narrow victory against play-off finalists Reading.

Former Reading striker Dave Kitson fired in a low shot from inside the box to give the home side the lead six minutes into the second half.

Both sides hit the woodwork during an often frenetic match, though the home team looked the more dangerous.

The Royals were unable to break down a dogged Portsmouth defence as the game played out.

Reading fans will be disappointed with the result, having defeated promotion favourites Leicester at the weekend. In truth the visitors, many people's outside bet for a play-off place this season, looked a little toothless in attack without departed frontman Shane Long.

Portsmouth carved out a number of decent chances in the first half. Eventual scorer Kitson was put through with just the Reading keeper to beat, but shot tamely at Adam Federici.

Reading did fight back before the break, with a powerful Jimmy Kebe header rebounding off the crossbar on the half hour.

It was Pompey pressure for the most part, however, and a long-range Kanu effort in the second half forced an athletic save from Federici.

The evening got even better for the Fratton Park faithful when striker Benjani came on as a substitute with 15 minutes to go. The last time the Zimbabwean pulled on a Pompey shirt was in January 2008, prior to move to Manchester City in the transfer window.

The 33-year-old nearly had an instant impact on proceedings, with a perfectly-weighted pass producing a Luke Varney shot which flashed just wide.

In the end, Portsmouth boss Steve Cotterill had to settle for the 1-0 win, while Reading travel back to Berkshire with plenty to ponder.

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (5)

Portsmouth

  • 01 Ashdown
  • 05 Pearce
  • 15 Halford
  • 26 Ben-Haim
  • 04 Mokoena
  • 07 Lawrence (Ward - 86' Booked )
  • 08 Mullins Booked
  • 19 Norris
  • 11 Varney
  • 18 Kitson
  • 27 Kanu (Mwaruwari - 75' )

Substitutes

  • 13 Henderson
  • 02 Ward
  • 03 Rocha
  • 17 Williams
  • 25 Mwaruwari

Reading

  • 01 Federici
  • 02 Griffin (Gunnarsson - 71' )
  • 05 Pearce Booked
  • 23 Harte
  • 26 Khumalo
  • 04 Karacan (Howard - 83' )
  • 08 Leigertwood
  • 11 McAnuff
  • 14 Kebe
  • 10 Hunt Booked
  • 22 Manset (Robson-Kanu - 66' )

Substitutes

  • 12 McCarthy
  • 06 Gunnarsson
  • 07 Tabb
  • 19 Robson-Kanu
  • 20 Howard
Ref: D'Urso
Att: 13,438

Match Stats

Shots

16 8

On target

8 3

Corners

12 8

Fouls

11 17

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +5:35 Full time

Full Time The referee blows his whistle to end the game.

90:00 +4:08

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Luke Varney by Brynjar Gunnarsson. Free kick taken by Tal Ben-Haim.

90:00 +3:28

Free kick awarded for a foul by Brynjar Gunnarsson on Benjani Mwaruwari. Tal Ben-Haim restarts play with the free kick.

90:00 +2:04

Ian Harte crosses the ball in from the free kick, Jamie Ashdown makes a save.

90:00 +2:04 Booking

Booking Joel Ward is given a yellow card.

90:00 +1:55

Ian Harte fouled by Joel Ward, the ref awards a free kick.

88:51

Corner taken short by Jobi McAnuff.

87:37

Shot by Jobi McAnuff from outside the area goes high over the crossbar.

85:28 Substitution

Substitution (Portsmouth) makes a substitution, with Joel Ward coming on for Liam Lawrence.

84:33

Free kick crossed by Liam Lawrence, clearance made by Bongani Khumalo.

84:33 Booking

Booking Alex Pearce shown a yellow card.

84:10

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Benjani Mwaruwari by Alex Pearce.

83:02

Inswinging corner taken by Liam Lawrence from the left by-line, Jason Pearce takes a shot. Save made by Adam Federici.

82:43

Free kick awarded for a foul by Hal Robson-Kanu on Jason Pearce. Greg Halford takes the free kick.

82:12 Substitution

Substitution (Reading) makes a substitution, with Brian Howard coming on for Jem Karacan.

81:55

Luke Varney has an effort at goal from inside the penalty area that bounces off the post.

81:03

Noel Hunt challenges Aaron Mokoena unfairly and gives away a free kick. Aaron Mokoena restarts play with the free kick.

79:47

Ian Harte crosses the ball, save by Jamie Ashdown.

77:21

The offside flag is raised against Benjani Mwaruwari. Bongani Khumalo takes the indirect free kick.

74:35

Free kick taken by Ian Harte.

74:35 Substitution

Substitution Benjani Mwaruwari replaces Nwankwo Kanu.

74:35

Unfair challenge on Mikele Leigertwood by Dave Kitson results in a free kick.

73:24

Inswinging corner taken by Jem Karacan from the left by-line, Jamie Ashdown fouled by Hal Robson-Kanu, the ref awards a free kick. Jamie Ashdown takes the free kick.

72:34

Ian Harte takes the inswinging corner, clearance by Hayden Mullins.

71:48

Jimmy Kebe delivers the ball, save by Jamie Ashdown.

70:53 Substitution

Substitution (Reading) makes a substitution, with Brynjar Gunnarsson coming on for Andy Griffin.

69:50

Corner from the left by-line taken by Jobi McAnuff, save made by Jamie Ashdown.

69:37

Hal Robson-Kanu takes a shot. Save made by Jamie Ashdown.

69:13

David Norris concedes a free kick for a foul on Jimmy Kebe. Andy Griffin takes the free kick.

65:25 Substitution

Substitution Hal Robson-Kanu is brought on as a substitute for Mathieu Manset.

64:51

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Liam Lawrence by Andy Griffin. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Liam Lawrence from right wing.

64:08

Corner taken by Liam Lawrence from the left by-line, clearance made by Ian Harte.

63:39

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Liam Lawrence, clearance by Alex Pearce.

63:24

Nwankwo Kanu takes a shot. Save by Adam Federici.

62:38

Liam Lawrence challenges Ian Harte unfairly and gives away a free kick. Ian Harte takes the direct free kick.

60:58

David Norris fouled by Jem Karacan, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Greg Halford.

59:45

Ian Harte takes the outswinging corner, save made by Jamie Ashdown.

58:39

Jobi McAnuff fouled by Aaron Mokoena, the ref awards a free kick. Adam Federici takes the direct free kick.

57:19

Jamie Ashdown takes the free kick.

57:19 Booking

Booking Noel Hunt is given a yellow card.

57:00

Noel Hunt concedes a free kick for a foul on Jason Pearce.

55:54

Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Luke Varney misses to the left of the goal.

54:29

The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Adam Federici.

54:04

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jem Karacan on David Norris. Direct free kick taken by Greg Halford.

53:20

Shot from outside the box by Nwankwo Kanu misses to the left of the target.

52:36

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Nwankwo Kanu by Noel Hunt. Tal Ben-Haim restarts play with the free kick.

51:34

Free kick awarded for a foul by Luke Varney on Jimmy Kebe. Free kick crossed by Ian Harte, Hayden Mullins manages to make a clearance.

50:23

Assist by Liam Lawrence.

50:23 Goal scored

Goal - Dave Kitson - Portsmouth 1 - 0 Reading Dave Kitson fires in a goal from inside the box low into the middle of the goal. Portsmouth 1-0 Reading.

50:02

Corner taken right-footed by Liam Lawrence from the right by-line,

49:11

The ball is sent over by Liam Lawrence, Header by Luke Varney from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the goal.

48:38

Free kick awarded for a foul by Noel Hunt on Tal Ben-Haim. Jamie Ashdown takes the free kick.

47:55

Hayden Mullins fouled by Jobi McAnuff, the ref awards a free kick. Jamie Ashdown takes the free kick.

47:23

The referee blows for offside against Nwankwo Kanu. Indirect free kick taken by Andy Griffin.

46:10

The referee blows for offside against Noel Hunt. Jamie Ashdown takes the indirect free kick.

45:01

The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.

45:00 +1:18 Half time

Half Time The referee calls an end to the first half.

43:04

Corner taken right-footed by Liam Lawrence from the right by-line, Andy Griffin manages to make a clearance.

42:13

Ian Harte produces a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area and misses left.

40:31

Jimmy Kebe challenges Luke Varney unfairly and gives away a free kick. The ball is swung over by Liam Lawrence, Jason Pearce takes a shot. Save by Adam Federici.

39:36

Nwankwo Kanu concedes a free kick for a foul on Andy Griffin. Andy Griffin takes the direct free kick.

38:10

Shot from 35 yards by Liam Lawrence went over the bar.

37:47

Jem Karacan takes a shot. Save by Jamie Ashdown.

36:37

Mathieu Manset gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Aaron Mokoena. Direct free kick taken by Aaron Mokoena.

36:12

David Norris takes a shot. Save by Adam Federici.

35:30

Tal Ben-Haim produces a right-footed shot from 35 yards and missed to the left of the net.

34:59

Corner from the right by-line taken by Liam Lawrence, Mathieu Manset manages to make a clearance.

34:25

Nwankwo Kanu takes a shot. Save made by Adam Federici.

33:20

David Norris produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

32:24

Headed effort from close range by Jimmy Kebe bounces off the post.

31:48

Unfair challenge on Mikele Leigertwood by Aaron Mokoena results in a free kick. Ian Harte takes the direct free kick.

29:17

Nwankwo Kanu takes a shot. Save made by Adam Federici.

27:39

Dave Kitson takes a shot. Save by Adam Federici.

27:27

Nwankwo Kanu fouled by Mikele Leigertwood, the ref awards a free kick. Luke Varney takes the direct free kick.

25:10

Shot from deep inside the area by Jobi McAnuff clears the crossbar.

22:03

The referee blows for offside. Adam Federici takes the free kick.

21:16

Free kick awarded for a foul by Dave Kitson on Mikele Leigertwood. Andy Griffin restarts play with the free kick.

19:12

Andy Griffin takes the direct free kick.

19:12 Booking

Booking Hayden Mullins goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.

18:57

Foul by Hayden Mullins on Jimmy Kebe, free kick awarded.

18:16

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on David Norris by Mikele Leigertwood. Direct free kick taken by Greg Halford.

17:26

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Liam Lawrence from the right by-line, Adam Federici makes a save.

15:38

The assistant referee flags for offside against Dave Kitson. Adam Federici restarts play with the free kick.

12:32

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Jobi McAnuff played to the near post, save by Jamie Ashdown.

12:15

Liam Lawrence decides to take a short corner.

11:54

Greg Halford takes a shot. Save made by Adam Federici.

11:24

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Liam Lawrence from the left by-line, clearance by Ian Harte.

11:00

Liam Lawrence takes the outswinging corner, Ian Harte makes a clearance.

9:57

The assistant referee flags for offside against Jimmy Kebe. Free kick taken by Jamie Ashdown.

7:12

Andy Griffin takes a shot. Save by Jamie Ashdown.

4:15

Corner from the left by-line taken by Jobi McAnuff, Headed effort from inside the area by Alex Pearce misses to the right of the goal.

3:49

Corner taken by Ian Harte from the right by-line, save by Jamie Ashdown.

2:39

Unfair challenge on Jimmy Kebe by Tal Ben-Haim results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Andy Griffin.

1:09

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Liam Lawrence, clearance made by Ian Harte.

0:39

Liam Lawrence takes the inswinging corner, clearance by Mathieu Manset.

0:00

The match gets underway.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association