Match ends, Fleetwood Town 0, Portsmouth 1.
FleetwoodFleetwood Town0PortsmouthPortsmouth1
John Marquis' first goal for nearly two months gave Portsmouth a battling League One away win at Fleetwood.
The striker's clinical 16th-minute header - his 12th goal in all competitions this season - stretched Pompey's unbeaten league run to five games.
Ryan Williams' delicious delivery into the box saw Marquis make no mistake from close range to give the visitors the perfect start.
But Fleetwood wasted a string of good chances to at least snatch a draw at Highbury Stadium.
Striker Paddy Madden rifled an effort wide and midfielder Callum Camps forced Portsmouth goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray to parry his powerful drive away.
On-loan Everton defender Callum Connolly headed agonisingly wide for the hosts and fellow loanee Kyle Vassell sent two good opportunities wide.
But Fleetwood goalkeeper Joe Hilton thwarted Michael Jacobs with a smart save and Marquis blazed a chance over as the home side rode their luck in interim boss Simon Wiles' first home game in charge.
Portsmouth are now a point behind second-placed Hull, with a game in hand on the Tigers.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Fleetwood
Formation 4-3-3
- 13Hilton
- 4Connolly
- 33Hill
- 14Mulgrew
- 35Rydel
- 6WhelanSubstituted forRossiterat 72'minutes
- 15Coutts
- 10Camps
- 18Vassell
- 17Madden
- 11MorrisSubstituted forMorrisat 79'minutes
Substitutes
- 8Duffy
- 16Rossiter
- 20Saunders
- 23Finley
- 32Holgate
- 36Matete
- 39Morris
Portsmouth
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1MacGillivray
- 2Johnson
- 6WhatmoughBooked at 36mins
- 20Raggett
- 3Brown
- 4Naylor
- 14Cannon
- 19Harness
- 24Jacobs
- 7Williams
- 9Marquis
Substitutes
- 8Close
- 10Harrison
- 13Bolton
- 15Nicolaisen
- 26Hiwula-Mayifuila
- 37Mnoga
- 41Turnbull
- Referee:
- James Bell
Match Stats
Home TeamFleetwoodAway TeamPortsmouth
- Possession
- Home64%
- Away36%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away2
- Corners
- Home5
- Away2
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away15
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Fleetwood Town 0, Portsmouth 1.
Post update
Jordan Rossiter (Fleetwood Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by John Marquis (Portsmouth).
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Foul by Ryan Rydel (Fleetwood Town).
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Marcus Harness (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt blocked. Shayden Morris (Fleetwood Town) right footed shot from very close range is blocked. Assisted by Callum Connolly.
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Attempt missed. Callum Connolly (Fleetwood Town) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Paul Coutts with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Fleetwood Town. Conceded by Lee Brown.
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Paul Coutts (Fleetwood Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by John Marquis (Portsmouth).
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Attempt missed. Ryan Williams (Portsmouth) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
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Attempt saved. Callum Camps (Fleetwood Town) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
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Attempt blocked. Jordan Rossiter (Fleetwood Town) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Paul Coutts (Fleetwood Town) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Marcus Harness (Portsmouth).
Substitution
Substitution, Fleetwood Town. Shayden Morris replaces Josh Morris.
Post update
Hand ball by Kyle Vassell (Fleetwood Town).
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James Hill (Fleetwood Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by John Marquis (Portsmouth).
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