Portsmouth stretched their unbeaten run to four League One games, their second clean sheet of the season helping to beat Crewe Alexandra at Fratton Park.

On-loan Bournemouth striker Wes Thomas opened the scoring after only 90 seconds, heading home from close range.

Pompey doubled their lead from the spot on 18 minutes, Izale McLeod scoring after Andy Bond's challenge on Thomas.

Thomas, who was a constant threat throughout, also forced a brilliant save from Alex keeper Alan Martin.

Pompey climb five places to 12th - just six points off the play-off zone and two points ahead of Crewe, who have dropped four places to 19th.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Portsmouth manager Michael Appleton told BBC Radio Solent:

"I said to the pair of them [Thomas and McLeod] I wanted them to start the game like a house on fire, at 100 miles an hour, and if they can't do it and sustain it for 90 minutes, then after 70 minutes we'll get someone off the bench who can continue that work rate.

"I thought the first half was very good. We looked very dangerous and in the second half it was just a solid performance. More importantly, it was a clean sheet again.

"We keep creating little short-term goals. We know what the objectives are for the season and there's small steps and stepping stones to be taken before then."

Crewe Alexandra manager Steve Davis told BBC Stoke:

"The referee and his two assistants got a lot of decisions wrong, particularly the penalty.

"I thought he dived. And, when you watch it, you can see that he dived. Although he sticks his foot out, he doesn't make any contact. That was a poor decision.

"And their centre-half (Ludo Michalik) cynically bodychecks Mathias Pogba when he was in in on goal and didn't even get booked. Then he does get booked when he should have had a red card."

Lineup, Bookings (7) & Substitutions (3)

Portsmouth

  • 01 Andersen
  • 03 Harley Booked
  • 16 Gyepes
  • 18 Ertl
  • 20 Michalik Booked
  • 22 Webster
  • 07 Williamson
  • 08 Howard Booked
  • 17 Buzsaky Booked (Compton - 75' )
  • 09 McLeod Booked (Rodgers - 87' Booked )
  • 14 Thomas

Substitutes

  • 13 Eastwood
  • 05 J Thompson
  • 06 Walker
  • 15 Obita
  • 10 Rodgers
  • 11 Compton
  • 21 Harris

Crewe Alexandra

  • 13 Martin
  • 02 Tootle
  • 03 Davis
  • 05 Ellis
  • 08 Murphy
  • 14 Mellor Booked
  • 26 Aneke
  • 28 Bond
  • 07 M Clayton
  • 09 Pogba
  • 10 Leitch-Smith (Moore - 30' )

Substitutes

  • 21 Garratt
  • 06 Dugdale
  • 12 Turton
  • 15 Robertson
  • 16 Guthrie
  • 11 Moore
  • 18 Daniels
Ref: Phillips
Att: 11,829

Match Stats

Shots

8 5

On target

6 4

Corners

8 8

Fouls

13 4

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:12 Full time

Full Time The referee brings the game to a close.

90:00 +2:00

Jack Compton takes a shot. Fantastic save by Alan Martin.

90:00 +0:57

Free kick taken by Kelvin Mellor.

90:00 +0:57 Booking

Booking Luke Rodgers is cautioned by the ref for time wasting.

90:00 +0:51

The offside flag is raised against Luke Rodgers.

87:52

Luke Murphy fouled by Brian Howard, the ref awards a free kick. Andy Bond takes the direct free kick.

86:20 Substitution

Substitution Luke Rodgers is brought on as a substitute for Izale McLeod.

85:39

The assistant referee signals for offside against Izale McLeod. Alan Martin takes the indirect free kick.

82:26

Foul by Gabor Gyepes on Byron Moore, free kick awarded. Free kick crossed right-footed by Luke Murphy from right channel, Mikkel Andersen makes a save.

81:53

Direct free kick taken by Harry Davis.

81:53 Booking

Booking Jon Harley booked for unsporting behaviour.

81:42

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jon Harley on Luke Murphy.

78:50

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Jack Compton, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Johnny Ertl misses to the left of the goal.

77:55

Corner taken right-footed by Luke Murphy, clearance made by Lubomir Michalik.

74:40 Substitution

Substitution Jack Compton joins the action as a substitute, replacing Akos Buzsaky.

74:21

Foul by Jon Harley on Kelvin Mellor, free kick awarded. Mark Ellis takes the free kick.

72:28

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Luke Murphy.

70:58

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Max Clayton played to the near post, clearance made by Lee Williamson.

69:13

Luke Murphy takes a long range shot clearing the crossbar.

67:21

The assistant referee signals for offside against Izale McLeod. Free kick taken by Alan Martin.

64:10

Lee Williamson takes a shot from deep inside the box clearing the bar.

63:36

Corner taken left-footed by Brian Howard, save by Alan Martin.

62:27

Chuks Aneke has an effort at goal from 20 yards. Save made by Mikkel Andersen.

56:12

Jon Harley is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Free kick taken by Matt Tootle.

55:49

The ball is sent over by Byron Moore, save by Mikkel Andersen.

53:53

Byron Moore takes a shot. Save by Mikkel Andersen.

48:45

Outswinging corner taken by Luke Murphy, Johnny Ertl manages to make a clearance.

47:44

Corner from the right by-line taken by Luke Murphy, Gabor Gyepes makes a clearance.

46:41

Harry Davis challenges Wes Thomas unfairly and gives away a free kick. Jon Harley restarts play with the free kick.

45:45

Chuks Aneke takes a shot. Save by Mikkel Andersen.

45:07

Unfair challenge on Harry Davis by Wes Thomas results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Alan Martin.

45:01

The referee starts the second half.

45:00 +4:11 Half time

Half Time It is the end of the first-half.

45:00 +1:30

Outswinging corner taken by Luke Murphy from the right by-line.

40:39

Inswinging corner taken by Brian Howard, save by Alan Martin.

40:09

Corner taken left-footed by Brian Howard to the near post, Luke Murphy makes a clearance.

39:52

Izale McLeod takes a shot. Save made by Alan Martin.

37:36

Luke Murphy takes the direct free kick.

37:36 Booking

Booking Lubomir Michalik booked.

37:32 Booking

Booking Akos Buzsaky booked.

37:23

Mathias Pogba fouled by Lubomir Michalik, the ref awards a free kick.

36:54

Wes Thomas takes a shot. Brilliant save by Alan Martin.

33:05

Free kick crossed by Akos Buzsaky, clearance made by Mathias Pogba.

33:05 Booking

Booking Kelvin Mellor receives a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

32:53

Kelvin Mellor concedes a free kick for a foul on Akos Buzsaky.

29:51

Direct free kick taken by Mikkel Andersen.

29:51 Substitution

Substitution Byron Moore is brought on as a substitute for Ajay Leitch-Smith.

29:51

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Gabor Gyepes by Chuks Aneke.

27:00

Kelvin Mellor restarts play with the free kick.

27:00 Booking

Booking Brian Howard is booked.

26:50

Brian Howard challenges Ajay Leitch-Smith unfairly and gives away a free kick.

25:37

Corner taken short by Brian Howard.

23:15

Mark Ellis takes the free kick.

23:15 Booking

Booking Booking for Izale McLeod.

23:05

Izale McLeod concedes a free kick for a foul on Ajay Leitch-Smith.

22:10

Izale McLeod gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kelvin Mellor. Alan Martin takes the free kick.

20:21

Izale McLeod gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Andy Bond. Free kick taken by Alan Martin.

19:47

Handball decision goes against Andy Bond. Free kick taken by Mikkel Andersen.

17:16 Goal scored

Goal - Izale McLeod - Portsmouth 2 - 0 Crewe Izale McLeod scores a power penalty. Portsmouth 2-0 Crewe.

15:54

Andy Bond concedes a Penalty for a foul on Wes Thomas.

14:35

Luke Murphy takes a inswinging corner to the near post, clearance made by Brian Howard.

11:51

Inswinging corner taken by Brian Howard, Unfair challenge on Alan Martin by Izale McLeod results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Alan Martin.

11:26

Wes Thomas takes a shot. Save by Alan Martin.

9:40

The offside flag is raised against Wes Thomas. Indirect free kick taken by Alan Martin.

7:33

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Brian Howard, Chuks Aneke manages to make a clearance.

7:12

Luke Murphy decides to take a short corner.

5:49

Unfair challenge on Mathias Pogba by Lubomir Michalik results in a free kick. Strike comes in from Luke Murphy from the free kick.

5:04

Luke Murphy fouled by Brian Howard, the ref awards a free kick. Luke Murphy takes the free kick.

3:23

Izale McLeod takes a shot. Save by Alan Martin.

1:55

Assist on the goal came from Jon Harley.

1:55 Goal scored

Goal - Wes Thomas - Portsmouth 1 - 0 Crewe Wes Thomas grabs a headed goal from inside the six-yard box. Portsmouth 1-0 Crewe.

1:45

The ball is crossed by Jon Harley,

0:51

Corner taken left-footed by Brian Howard from the left by-line to the near post, clearance by Chuks Aneke.

0:00

The referee gets the match started.

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