Crawley Town 0-3 Portsmouth- Match Report




Pompey brush aside nine-man Crawley

Three goals in 11 second-half minutes helped Portsmouth to their first league win of the season as they triumphed 3-0 at nine-man Crawley.

Substitute Ashley Harris struck in the 74th minute to put Pompey ahead before Luke Rodgers and Izale McLeod completed the away side's victory - ending Town's 100% home form in front of a record 5,058 crowd at the Broadfield Stadium.

Crawley finished the match with just nine players after Josh Simpson and Hope Akpan were both sent off for two bookable offences.

Akpan had gone close for Crawley with a dipping right-footed volley from 20 yards midway through the first half, and Gary Alexander almost steered a teasing Nicky Adams cross past Pompey keeper Mikkel Andersen as the Reds began brightly.

But in the 41st minute referee Darren Deadman showed a red card to Crawley midfielder Simpson after two separate fouls on McLeod.

Team-mate Akpan was then given his marching orders in the 71st minute before Harris quickly tapped Pompey into the lead after a cross from Adam Webster.

Rodgers doubled the lead with a stunning 20-yard free-kick in the 83rd minute before McLeod rounded Crawley `keeper Paul Jones to complete his side's victory two minutes later.

Source: PA

Source: PA