Portsmouth will compete in the third tier of English football for the first time in 30 years after their relegation from the Championship was confirmed.

Pompey striker Luke Varney slotted in Marko Futacs's pass to cancel out Jake Buxton's first-half opener for Derby.

But Steve Davies converted a winning penalty four minutes later to deny Michael Appleton's side a small consolation after a torrid season.

Bristol City's home win against Barnsley sealed Portsmouth's fate.

It has been a terrible season for the South Coast club, who were docked 10 points in February after going into administration.

The club still owes £58m and Trevor Birch, of administrators PKF, said earlier this month liquidation was still a real possibility because he has received no firm offers to buy the club.

Despite the uncertain future, Appleton and his players had hoped to finish their home campaign on a high, but they fell behind when an unmarked Buxton headed in Jamie Ward's right-wing cross from close range.

With news of Bristol City's progress at Ashton Gate filtering through, the home fans tried to rally their side and Scott Allan fizzed a shot against the crossbar.

Portsmouth finally got their reward with 16 minutes to play through Varney, but their joy was short-lived when Ward was brought down by Jason Pearce in the box.

Despite Davies' spot-kick striking keeper Jamie Ashdown's legs, it still found its way in as Derby held on to win their final away fixture of a league campaign for the first time in 10 years.

But the overwhelming emotion at Fratton Park was one of dejection as Portsmouth contemplated life in League One next season, less than four years after winning the FA Cup at Wembley.

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (4)

Portsmouth

  • 01 Ashdown
  • 02 Ward
  • 03 Rocha
  • 05 Pearce Booked
  • 15 Halford
  • 23 Rekik
  • 16 Allan
  • 19 Norris
  • 11 Varney Booked
  • 17 Harris (Futacs - 60' )
  • 18 Kitson Booked

Substitutes

  • 30 Magri
  • 31 Webster
  • 04 Mokoena
  • 09 Futacs
  • 14 Etuhu

Derby County

  • 01 Fielding (Legzdins - 46' )
  • 02 Brayford
  • 03 Roberts
  • 06 Shackell
  • 17 Buxton
  • 04 Bryson
  • 23 Hendrick
  • 07 S Davies Booked
  • 09 Tyson (Bennett - 79' )
  • 10 Ward
  • 21 Robinson (Hughes - 68' )

Substitutes

  • 13 Legzdins
  • 16 Bailey
  • 19 Carroll
  • 29 Hughes
  • 28 Bennett
Ref: Naylor
Att: 17,707

Match Stats

Shots

16 10

On target

9 6

Corners

3 7

Fouls

16 16

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +5:54 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

90:00 +4:27

Jason Shackell concedes a free kick for a foul on Marko Futacs. Greg Halford produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick.

90:00 +3:16

The ball is crossed by Luke Varney, clearance by Gareth Roberts.

90:00 +2:32

The ball is crossed by Jason Pearce, save by Adam Legzdins.

90:00 +2:19

The ball is swung over by Marko Futacs, Jason Shackell makes a clearance.

90:00 +0:51

Shot by Scott Allan from just outside the area goes over the net.

90:00 +0:17

Jamie Ward has a shot on goal from long range that goes wide left.

88:42

Free kick awarded for a foul by Dave Kitson on Jason Shackell. Jason Shackell restarts play with the free kick.

87:45

Scott Allan takes a shot. Save made by Adam Legzdins.

74:10

Jamie Ward takes the outswinging corner, Steve Davies takes a shot. Save made by Jamie Ashdown.

83:09

Steve Davies takes a shot. Ricardo Rocha gets a block in. Corner from left by-line taken by Jamie Ward.

82:01

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Steve Davies by Jason Pearce. Jason Shackell takes the direct free kick.

80:26

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Gareth Roberts by Scott Allan. Jason Shackell takes the direct free kick.

79:58

Will Hughes fouled by David Norris, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Jeff Hendrick.

79:34

David Norris takes a shot. Adam Legzdins makes a save.

78:27 Substitution

Substitution Mason Bennett on for Nathan Tyson.

77:18 Goal scored

Goal - Steve Davies - Portsmouth 1 - 2 Derby Penalty taken right-footed by Steve Davies and scored. Portsmouth 1-2 Derby.

76:16

Foul by Jason Pearce on Jamie Ward, Penalty awarded.

74:59

Outswinging corner taken by Jamie Ward, Steve Davies takes a shot. Jamie Ashdown makes a save.

73:32 Goal scored

Goal - Luke Varney - Portsmouth 1 - 1 Derby Luke Varney fires in a goal from just inside the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Portsmouth 1-1 Derby.

71:40

Ricardo Rocha challenges Jamie Ward unfairly and gives away a free kick. Shot on goal comes in from Jamie Ward from the free kick, save made by Jamie Ashdown. Corner taken by Jamie Ward.

70:04

Centre by Nathan Tyson, Header from close range by Will Hughes misses to the right of the goal.

68:55

Jamie Ward gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Joel Ward. Jamie Ashdown takes the direct free kick.

68:17

Jeff Hendrick has an effort at goal from outside the penalty box missing to the wide right of the goal.

67:46

Luke Varney takes a shot. Save made by Adam Legzdins.

66:55

Greg Halford takes the free kick.

66:55 Substitution

Substitution (Derby) makes a substitution, with Will Hughes coming on for Theo Robinson.

66:55

Craig Bryson is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick.

66:37

Scott Allan takes a shot.

66:11

Foul by Nathan Tyson on Ricardo Rocha, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Jamie Ashdown.

65:43

Shot from just outside the box by Steve Davies misses to the left of the target.

64:54

Effort from deep inside the area by Dave Kitson misses to the left of the goal.

64:16 Booking

Booking Steve Davies receives a caution.

64:15 Booking

Booking Jason Pearce booked.

62:59

Greg Halford fouled by Jamie Ward, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jamie Ashdown.

62:37

The ball is crossed by Nathan Tyson.

61:25

Marko Futacs is ruled offside. Adam Legzdins takes the free kick.

61:18

Dave Kitson delivers the ball, clearance made by Jason Shackell.

60:54

A cross is delivered by David Norris, Jake Buxton makes a clearance.

58:36 Substitution

Substitution Ashley Harris goes off and Marko Futacs comes on.

58:36

Ashley Harris produces a right-footed shot from outside the penalty box and misses right.

57:25

Luke Varney is caught offside. Indirect free kick taken by Adam Legzdins.

54:56

Free kick taken by Adam Legzdins.

54:56 Booking

Booking Luke Varney shown a yellow card.

54:17

Adam Legzdins fouled by Luke Varney, the ref awards a free kick.

53:45

Ashley Harris takes a shot.

53:14

Jeff Hendrick challenges Greg Halford unfairly and gives away a free kick. Jason Pearce takes the free kick.

50:19

Luke Varney takes a shot. Save made by Adam Legzdins.

48:51

The ball is swung over by Nathan Tyson.

47:45

Luke Varney challenges Jake Buxton unfairly and gives away a free kick. John Brayford takes the free kick.

46:37

A cross is delivered by Scott Allan, save made by Adam Legzdins.

45:01

The match restarts for the second half.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Frank Fielding goes off and Adam Legzdins comes on.

45:00 +2:03 Half time

Half Time The whistle is blown to end the first half.

45:00 +1:22

Luke Varney takes a shot. Frank Fielding makes a save.

45:00 +0:27

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on John Brayford by Karim Rekik. Free kick taken by John Brayford.

42:47

Inswinging corner taken by Jamie Ward, Jamie Ashdown makes a save.

41:35

Direct free kick taken by Jason Shackell.

41:35 Booking

Booking Booking for Dave Kitson for unsporting behaviour.

41:29

Dave Kitson concedes a free kick for a foul on Jamie Ward.

40:32

Assist on the goal came from Jamie Ward.

40:32 Goal scored

Goal - Jake Buxton - Portsmouth 0 - 1 Derby A goal is scored by Jake Buxton from inside the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Portsmouth 0-1 Derby.

39:54

Outswinging corner taken by Jamie Ward,

39:14

The ball is swung over by Joel Ward.

37:36

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Greg Halford by Jeff Hendrick. Ricardo Rocha takes the free kick.

35:43

Foul by Steve Davies on Greg Halford, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Ricardo Rocha.

34:34

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Luke Varney by Jason Shackell. Direct free kick taken by Greg Halford.

32:08

Scott Allan fouled by Jeff Hendrick, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Greg Halford. Scott Allan takes a shot. Frank Fielding makes a save.

29:25

Joel Ward takes a shot. Save by Frank Fielding. Corner taken by Scott Allan from the right by-line, save by Frank Fielding.

28:44

Nathan Tyson concedes a free kick for a foul on Scott Allan. Direct free kick taken by Scott Allan.

27:41

Unfair challenge on Dave Kitson by Jeff Hendrick results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Dave Kitson.

26:39

Unfair challenge on Jake Buxton by Ashley Harris results in a free kick. Jason Shackell takes the direct free kick.

26:14

David Norris takes a shot. Save made by Frank Fielding.

22:41

Unfair challenge on Jason Pearce by Steve Davies results in a free kick. Jamie Ashdown takes the direct free kick.

22:00

Scott Allan takes a shot. Blocked by Jeff Hendrick. Jason Pearce concedes a free kick for a foul on John Brayford. Direct free kick taken by John Brayford.

19:55

Craig Bryson concedes a free kick for a foul on Scott Allan. Direct free kick taken by Karim Rekik.

19:17

A cross is delivered by Theo Robinson, Jason Pearce gets a block in.

16:30

Dave Kitson challenges Craig Bryson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jake Buxton.

13:46

Luke Varney crosses the ball, Jason Shackell makes a clearance. Outswinging corner taken by Scott Allan from the right by-line, save by Frank Fielding.

11:50

Ashley Harris produces a cross, Gareth Roberts gets a block in. Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Scott Allan, free kick awarded for a foul by Greg Halford on Frank Fielding. Frank Fielding takes the direct free kick.

11:20

Free kick awarded for a foul by Steve Davies on Karim Rekik. Karim Rekik takes the direct free kick.

10:34

The ball is sent over by Nathan Tyson, save made by Jamie Ashdown.

9:17

Greg Halford challenges Jamie Ward unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Steve Davies.

8:54

The ball is sent over by Nathan Tyson.

8:21

Steve Davies fouled by Karim Rekik, the ref awards a free kick. Jamie Ward restarts play with the free kick.

7:14

Jamie Ward takes a shot. Jason Pearce gets a block in. Jamie Ward takes a corner.

6:13

Steve Davies concedes a free kick for a foul on Greg Halford. Direct free kick taken by Ricardo Rocha.

4:26

Jamie Ward takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post, Karim Rekik manages to make a clearance.

0:09

Unfair challenge on Scott Allan by Jeff Hendrick results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Jason Pearce.

0:00

The game kicks-off.

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