Teenager Ashley Harris was scorer and provider as Portsmouth posted their first League One win of the season against nine-man Crawley.

Josh Simpson and Hope Akpan were both dismissed for two bookable offences either side of half time.

Minutes after Akpan's dismissal substitute Harris, 18, headed 17-year-old Adam Webster's cross home.

Luke Rodgers curled in a 25-yard free kick before Izale McLeod latched onto Harris's pass for Pompey's third.

The defeat, in front of a record crowd of 5,058 at the Broadfield Stadium, denied Crawley the chance to move joint top of the table with Notts County but does see Portsmouth climb six places to 16th.

Akpan's dipping right-footed volley from 20 yards came close midway through the first half and Gary Alexander almost sent Nicky Adams's cross past Pompey keeper Mikkel Andersen.

But, after a bright start, the hosts were reduced to 10 men four minutes before the break when Simpson was shown his second yellow after consecutive fouls on McLeod.

The game remained at a stalemate for another 30 minutes before Akpan saw red and, with both Crawley's central midfielders in the dressing room, Pompey soon took advantage.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Michael Appleton tells BBC Radio Solent:

"The biggest thing I am delighted with is the composure they've shown to play against ten men which was important.

"I was delighted that the [first] goal was made by a 17-year-old and scored by an 18-year-old. It couldn't get any better for us.

[On Gabor Gyepes' injury] "It doesn't look great. He went over on his ankle, he's got a brace on his foot. It seems to be the luck we are having at the moment with central defenders."

Lineup, Bookings (9) & Substitutions (5)

Crawley Town

  • 01 Jones
  • 03 Sadler Booked
  • 05 McFadzean
  • 13 Hunt
  • 06 Akpan Dismissed after an earlier booking
  • 11 Simpson Dismissed after an earlier booking
  • 16 Adams
  • 18 Cooper Booked
  • 21 Jones (Bulman - 58' )
  • 09 Alexander
  • 14 Ajose (Connolly - 72' )

Substitutes

  • 25 Kuipers
  • 04 Connolly
  • 12 Walsh
  • 07 Clarke
  • 15 Bulman
  • 22 Neilson
  • 10 Forte

Portsmouth

  • 01 Andersen
  • 03 Harley
  • 04 Long
  • 05 J Thompson
  • 16 Gyepes (Webster - 40' )
  • 07 Williamson
  • 08 Howard Booked (Walker - 84' )
  • 19 Russell
  • 09 McLeod
  • 10 Rodgers
  • 11 Compton Booked (Harris - 70' Booked )

Substitutes

  • 13 Eastwood
  • 18 Ertl
  • 22 Webster
  • 06 Walker
  • 17 Clifford
  • 21 Harris
Ref: Deadman
Att: 5,058

Match Stats

Shots

7 9

On target

2 8

Corners

6 6

Fouls

13 8

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +5:08 Full time

Full Time The referee brings the game to a close.

90:00 +2:46

Izale McLeod takes a shot. Save made by Paul Jones.

90:00 +2:20

Corner taken short by Lee Williamson.

89:59

Liam Walker takes the chance to get an effort at goal. Save by Paul Jones.

88:38

Gary Alexander concedes a free kick for a foul on Josh Thompson. Josh Thompson takes the direct free kick.

84:04

The assist for the goal came from Ashley Harris.

84:04 Goal scored

Goal - Izale McLeod - Crawley 0 - 3 Portsmouth Izale McLeod gets on the score sheet with a goal from close range to the bottom left corner of the goal. Crawley Town 0-3 Portsmouth.

83:31 Substitution

Substitution Liam Walker joins the action as a substitute, replacing Brian Howard.

82:26 Goal scored

Goal - Luke Rodgers - Crawley 0 - 2 Portsmouth Luke Rodgers hits the back of the net with a fantastic goal direct from the free kick from just outside the penalty box to the top left corner of the goal. Crawley Town 0-2 Portsmouth.

81:25 Booking

Booking Shaun Cooper shown a yellow card.

81:13

Unfair challenge on Luke Rodgers by Shaun Cooper results in a free kick.

79:54

Mat Sadler challenges Lee Williamson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Josh Thompson.

78:13

Nicky Adams delivers the ball, Header from close in by Mark Connolly misses to the right of the goal.

77:45

Corner taken short by Nicky Adams.

76:15

Izale McLeod challenges Kyle McFadzean unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Kyle McFadzean.

74:03 Booking

Booking The referee cautions Ashley Harris for unsporting behaviour.

73:27

Adam Webster provided the assist for the goal.

73:27 Goal scored

Goal - Ashley Harris - Crawley 0 - 1 Portsmouth Ashley Harris finds the net with a headed goal from close in. Crawley Town 0-1 Portsmouth.

73:23

Adam Webster produces a cross,

70:44

Lee Williamson restarts play with the free kick.

70:44 Substitution

Substitution (Crawley Town) makes a substitution, with Mark Connolly coming on for Nick Ajose.

70:44 Dismissal

Dismissal The referee shows Hope Akpan a red card.

70:38

Hope Akpan concedes a free kick for a foul on Izale McLeod.

69:52

Shaun Cooper fouled by Luke Rodgers, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Paul Jones.

69:13 Substitution

Substitution Jack Compton leaves the field to be replaced by Ashley Harris.

67:05

Kevin Long gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Nick Ajose. Free kick taken by Paul Jones.

66:05

Adam Webster takes a shot. Blocked by Kyle McFadzean.

64:34

Free kick taken by Nicky Adams.

64:34 Booking

Booking Booking for Brian Howard for unsporting behaviour.

64:28

Brian Howard gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Hope Akpan.

63:41

Gary Alexander crosses the ball, clearance made by Kevin Long.

61:25

Kevin Long challenges Nick Ajose unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed by Nicky Adams.

60:35

Corner taken right-footed by Nicky Adams, save made by Mikkel Andersen.

57:31 Substitution

Substitution Dannie Bulman is brought on as a substitute for Mike Jones.

56:38

Lee Williamson delivers the ball, clearance made by Nicky Adams.

53:14

Unfair challenge on Mat Sadler by Luke Rodgers results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Paul Jones.

52:49

Nicky Adams produces a cross, Adam Webster makes a clearance.

51:37

The referee blows for offside against Izale McLeod. Indirect free kick taken by Paul Jones.

51:25

The ball is sent over by Brian Howard, save made by Paul Jones.

50:34

Corner taken left-footed by Brian Howard from the right by-line to the near post, save by Paul Jones.

50:20

Nicky Adams delivers the ball, save by Mikkel Andersen.

49:20

Jon Harley crosses the ball, Paul Jones makes a save.

47:43

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Brian Howard played to the near post, Strike by Kevin Long from inside the six-yard box clear the bar.

46:20

Jack Compton produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick, save made by Paul Jones.

46:20 Booking

Booking Mat Sadler is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

46:04

Mat Sadler challenges Lee Williamson unfairly and gives away a free kick.

45:28

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Adam Webster by Gary Alexander. Josh Thompson takes the free kick.

45:01

The second half begins.

45:00 +2:16 Half time

Half Time The first half comes to an end.

45:00 +2:03

Jon Harley crosses the ball.

45:00 +0:37

Nicky Adams takes a shot. Josh Thompson gets a block in.

44:34

Corner taken right-footed by Lee Williamson from the right by-line to the near post, clearance made by Kyle McFadzean.

42:28

Shaun Cooper restarts play with the free kick.

42:22

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jack Compton on Hope Akpan.

42:28

Shaun Cooper takes the free kick.

42:28 Booking

Booking Jack Compton goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.

42:22

Foul by Jack Compton on Hope Akpan, free kick awarded.

42:04

Outswinging corner taken by Brian Howard from the left by-line, clearance by Shaun Cooper.

40:45

Free kick crossed right-footed by Lee Williamson from right channel, clearance made by Gary Alexander.

40:45 Dismissal

Dismissal Josh Simpson is sent off by the referee for second bookable offence.

40:39

Unfair challenge on Izale McLeod by Josh Simpson results in a free kick.

39:31 Substitution

Substitution (Portsmouth) makes a substitution, with Adam Webster coming on for Gabor Gyepes.

39:20

Mat Sadler delivers the ball, clearance made by Jon Harley.

38:09

Corner taken right-footed by Nicky Adams to the near post, Shaun Cooper takes a shot. Josh Thompson manages to make a clearance.

37:00

Short corner worked by Mike Jones. Mat Sadler produces a cross.

35:59

Lee Williamson concedes a free kick for a foul on Mat Sadler. Mat Sadler restarts play with the free kick.

33:24

Direct free kick taken by Jon Harley.

33:24 Booking

Booking Josh Simpson goes into the book.

33:20

Izale McLeod fouled by Josh Simpson, the ref awards a free kick.

33:12

Nicky Adams produces a cross, Gabor Gyepes makes a clearance.

32:36

Short corner worked by Nicky Adams.

30:17

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Gabor Gyepes by Kyle McFadzean. Direct free kick taken by Mikkel Andersen.

28:21

The ball is crossed by Nicky Adams.

24:45

The assistant referee flags for offside against Luke Rodgers. Shaun Cooper takes the free kick.

24:03

Hope Akpan produces a left-footed shot from long range which goes wide right of the goal.

18:45

Shot from just outside the penalty box by David Hunt misses to the left of the target.

17:56

Izale McLeod is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Paul Jones restarts play with the free kick.

17:02

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Izale McLeod by Shaun Cooper. Brian Howard takes the free kick.

16:31

Izale McLeod is ruled offside. Shaun Cooper restarts play with the free kick.

16:10

The ball is swung over by Lee Williamson, blocked by Mat Sadler.

15:12

Kevin Long fouled by Gary Alexander, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Brian Howard.

14:38

Luke Rodgers is ruled offside. Paul Jones takes the indirect free kick.

14:13

Corner taken by Jon Harley, clearance made by Kyle McFadzean.

13:58

Luke Rodgers takes a shot. Blocked by David Hunt.

13:11

Corner taken right-footed by Nicky Adams from the right by-line to the near post, Nick Ajose takes a shot.

11:49

Kevin Long takes the free kick.

11:49 Booking

Booking Hope Akpan goes into the book.

11:41

Hope Akpan gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Brian Howard.

9:17

Nicky Adams takes a shot. Kevin Long gets a block in.

7:56

The ball is swung over by Mike Jones.

3:01

Free kick awarded for a foul by Kyle McFadzean on Darel Russell. Free kick taken by Brian Howard. The assistant referee flags for offside against Luke Rodgers. Free kick taken by Paul Jones.

0:00

The referee gets the game underway.

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