Yoann Arquin scored a goal in each half as Notts County moved up to second place in League One with a routine victory over ailing Portsmouth.

Arquin set the Magpies on their way to a fifth win in eight league games after just five minutes with a close-range strike from Alan Judge's corner.

Pompey rallied and matched the hosts until Judge fired home number two from long range two minutes after the break.

And Arquin rolled in a third to secure the points after a defensive lapse.

Portsmouth, despite their much-publicised off-field troubles, played with plenty of spirit and endeavour in a tight first period.

But they never looked like getting back in to the game once Judge smashed in a vicious second home goal from 25 yards soon after the restart.

The visitors had responded well to Arquin's tidy opener, but never looked like having the quality to trouble a Notts side who looked full of confidence and were able to play within themselves once they had established a two-goal lead.

Judge had two decent chances to extend Notts' advantage before he did find the net, chipping the first effort just over the bar after a good backheel by Jeff Hughes, and also having a low strike well saved by keeper Mikkel Andersen.

Jack Compton went close for the visitors at 1-0, however Notts cruised home after the interval.

Judge's dipping low effort settled the home side's nerves and Arquin made absolutely certain of a win which sees Pompey languishing in the relegation zone when he ran on to Judge's pass and coolly slotted the ball into the net.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM:

Notts County manager Keith Curle told BBC Radio Nottingham:

"We took the lead and although I didn't think they caused us too many problems, I didn't think we had enough in midfield with the movement of our ball.

"I don't think we had enough direction in our play - which we tried to change at half-time.

"They simplified their game and I think did very well. I'm a big believer that you play how you practice."

Portsmouth manager Michael Appleton speaking to BBC Radio Solent:

"You've got to get the first goal in games to give yourself an opportunity, and then to go and concede in the first five minutes makes it obviously doubly difficult.

"To be honest I didn't think we had it in us, and that's why it was important that once the third went in that we made sure there was no more goals.

"Heads have been starting to drop in the dressing room for a long time, but that's not due to being beaten here today 3-0.

"That's due to other issues that we can't control, but we're not going to start feeling sorry for ourselves, it's too far down the line for all that."

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (6)

Notts County

  • 01 Bialkowski
  • 02 Kelly
  • 06 Leacock Booked
  • 08 Liddle
  • 27 Regan (Wholey - 61' )
  • 04 Bishop (Campbell-Ryce - 46' )
  • 11 J Hughes
  • 16 Labadie
  • 10 Judge (Bencherif - 81' )
  • 13 Zoko
  • 15 Arquin

Substitutes

  • 23 Speiss
  • 24 Wholey
  • 14 Mahon
  • 18 Bencherif
  • 20 Campbell-Ryce
  • 09 Showunmi
  • 19 L Hughes

Portsmouth

  • 01 Andersen
  • 02 Dumbuya
  • 03 Harley
  • 16 Gyepes Booked
  • 20 Michalik
  • 07 Williamson
  • 08 Howard
  • 11 Compton (Walker - 82' )
  • 19 Russell
  • 09 McLeod (Harris - 57' )
  • 10 Rodgers (Obita - 77' )

Substitutes

  • 13 Eastwood
  • 05 J Thompson
  • 18 Ertl
  • 22 Webster
  • 06 Walker
  • 15 Obita
  • 21 Harris
Ref: Geoff Eltrigham
Att: 6,834

Match Stats

Shots

9 10

On target

6 2

Corners

8 6

Fouls

14 10

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:08 Full time

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

90:00 +1:49

Lubomir Michalik produces a right-footed shot from long range that goes over the bar. Yoann Arquin concedes a free kick for a foul on Ashley Harris. Ashley Harris takes the free kick.

90:00 +0:15

Inswinging corner taken by Liam Walker from the right by-line played to the near post, Jake Wholey manages to make a clearance.

87:29

Free kick awarded for a foul by Gabor Gyepes on Jamal Campbell-Ryce.

87:38

The free kick is swung in right-footed by Jeff Hughes, save made by Mikkel Andersen.

87:38 Booking

Booking Gabor Gyepes is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour.

87:29

Gabor Gyepes concedes a for a foul on Jamal Campbell-Ryce.

86:46

Brian Howard takes the free kick.

86:46 Booking

Booking Dean Leacock receives a caution for dissent.

86:25

Unfair challenge on Jordan Obita by Joss Labadie results in a free kick.

85:52

Outswinging corner taken by Jamal Campbell-Ryce.

82:54

Joss Labadie challenges Liam Walker unfairly and gives away a free kick. Brian Howard takes the free kick. Gabor Gyepes produces a left-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the target.

82:24

Hamza Bencherif challenges Lubomir Michalik unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Lubomir Michalik.

80:48 Substitution

Substitution Liam Walker is brought on as a substitute for Jack Compton.

80:48 Substitution

Substitution Alan Judge leaves the field to be replaced by Hamza Bencherif.

79:47

Lee Williamson fouled by Gary Liddle, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Jon Harley.

76:06

Corner taken by Jack Compton from the left by-line, Bartosz Bialkowski makes a comfortable save.

76:06 Substitution

Substitution (Portsmouth) makes a substitution, with Jordan Obita coming on for Luke Rodgers.

70:28

Joss Labadie gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Lee Williamson. Brian Howard restarts play with the free kick. Dean Leacock challenges Darel Russell unfairly and gives away a free kick. Brian Howard takes the free kick.

66:15

Brian Howard takes a inswinging corner.

65:13

The referee gives a free kick against Francois Zoko for handball. Lee Williamson restarts play with the free kick.

64:26

The ball is sent over by Ashley Harris.

60:22

Dean Leacock restarts play with the free kick. Effort from the edge of the penalty box by Joss Labadie goes wide of the right-hand upright. Corner taken by Alan Judge from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance by Brian Howard.

60:22 Substitution

Substitution Jake Wholey replaces Carl Regan.

60:22

Unfair challenge on Alan Judge by Darel Russell results in a free kick.

58:52

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Alan Judge.

57:56

Jeff Hughes fouled by Lee Williamson, the ref awards a free kick. Alan Judge takes the free kick.

57:24

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Joss Labadie by Darel Russell. Free kick taken by Julian Kelly.

56:47 Substitution

Substitution Ashley Harris replaces Izale McLeod.

56:02

Alan Judge provided the assist for the goal.

56:02 Goal scored

Goal - Yoann Arquin - Notts Co 3 - 0 Portsmouth Goal scored by Yoann Arquin from inside the six-yard box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Notts County 3-0 Portsmouth.

55:49

The ball is crossed by Jeff Hughes, Darel Russell makes a clearance.

53:03

Darel Russell takes a shot. Mikkel Andersen manages to make a clearance. Corner taken by Brian Howard, Gary Liddle manages to make a clearance.

51:43

Jack Compton sends in a cross, Bartosz Bialkowski manages to make a clearance.

50:40

Free kick awarded for a foul by Dean Leacock on Luke Rodgers. Lee Williamson takes the direct free kick.

49:20

Free kick awarded for a foul by Darel Russell on Joss Labadie. Alan Judge crosses the ball in from the free kick, clearance by Brian Howard.

46:36

Assist by Yoann Arquin.

46:36 Goal scored

Goal - Alan Judge - Notts Co 2 - 0 Portsmouth Alan Judge grabs a goal. Notts County 2-0 Portsmouth.

45:01

The second half begins.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution (Notts County) makes a substitution, with Jamal Campbell-Ryce coming on for Neal Bishop.

45:00 +1:12 Half time

Half Time The referee blows for half time.

45:00 +0:31

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Lee Williamson by Neal Bishop. Lubomir Michalik takes the free kick.

44:27

Shot from just outside the box by Brian Howard misses to the right of the goal.

41:47

Effort from just outside the area by Alan Judge goes over the target.

40:02

Izale McLeod concedes a free kick for a foul on Neal Bishop. Free kick taken by Joss Labadie.

38:27

Brian Howard fouled by Jeff Hughes, the ref awards a free kick. Strike comes in from Jack Compton from the free kick.

37:28

Yoann Arquin challenges Lee Williamson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Lee Williamson.

23:17

Gabor Gyepes challenges Yoann Arquin unfairly and gives away a free kick. Jeff Hughes restarts play with the free kick. The ball is crossed by Alan Judge, Lubomir Michalik manages to make a clearance. Corner taken by Alan Judge played to the near post, Yoann Arquin takes a shot. Blocked by Mikkel Andersen. Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Alan Judge from the left by-line to the near post.

36:29

Jack Compton has shot on goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

36:29

Jack Compton produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the target.

34:47

Alan Judge is adjudged to have handled the ball. Lee Williamson takes the direct free kick.

32:28

Jack Compton fouled by Carl Regan, the ref awards a free kick. Lee Williamson takes the direct free kick.

31:56

Alan Judge takes a shot. Save by Mikkel Andersen.

31:08

Luke Rodgers is ruled offside. Free kick taken by Bartosz Bialkowski.

29:34

The ball is sent over by Julian Kelly, Mustapha Dumbuya manages to make a clearance.

27:52

Izale McLeod takes a shot. Bartosz Bialkowski manages to make a clearance. The official flags Luke Rodgers offside. Free kick taken by Gary Liddle.

27:25

The referee blows for offside against Yoann Arquin. Lubomir Michalik takes the indirect free kick.

26:19

Handball decision goes against Jon Harley. Indirect free kick taken by Bartosz Bialkowski.

23:17

Unfair challenge on Yoann Arquin by Gabor Gyepes results in a free kick. Jeff Hughes takes the free kick. Alan Judge sends in a cross, Lubomir Michalik manages to make a clearance. Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Alan Judge played to the near post, Yoann Arquin takes a shot. Blocked by Mikkel Andersen. Corner taken by Alan Judge played to the near post.

22:34

Jack Compton sends in a cross.

21:47

Luke Rodgers takes a shot. Dean Leacock gets a block in. Corner taken left-footed by Brian Howard to the near post, Gary Liddle makes a clearance.

19:52

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Brian Howard by Gary Liddle. Strike on goal comes in from Lee Williamson from the free kick, blocked by Neal Bishop. Corner taken left-footed by Brian Howard from the left by-line to the near post, Gary Liddle manages to make a clearance.

16:57

Joss Labadie concedes a free kick for a foul on Luke Rodgers. Brian Howard restarts play with the free kick.

16:11

The assistant referee flags for offside against Alan Judge. Mikkel Andersen takes the indirect free kick.

14:22

Inswinging corner taken by Alan Judge from the left by-line, Shot on goal by Jeff Hughes from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.

12:28

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Francois Zoko by Mustapha Dumbuya. Free kick crossed by Alan Judge, clearance by Mikkel Andersen.

10:38

Brian Howard challenges Joss Labadie unfairly and gives away a free kick. The ball is delivered by Alan Judge, Joss Labadie takes a shot. Blocked by Lubomir Michalik.

8:36

Jack Compton gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Julian Kelly. Free kick crossed right-footed by Alan Judge, clearance made by Lubomir Michalik.

5:50

Brian Howard has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

4:47

Assist on the goal came from Alan Judge.

4:47 Goal scored

Goal - Yoann Arquin - Notts Co 1 - 0 Portsmouth Goal scored by Yoann Arquin from inside the six-yard box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Notts County 1-0 Portsmouth.

4:05

Julian Kelly sends in a cross, clearance made by Gabor Gyepes. Alan Judge takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post,

2:39

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Alan Judge, clearance made by Jack Compton.

1:23

Luke Rodgers is ruled offside. Indirect free kick taken by Gary Liddle.

0:00

The match has kicked off.

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