Portsmouth 3 Crawley 0: Reds lose again on the road

PortsmouthÃ¢Â¬"s Matt Clarke scores his first goal of the match during the Sky Bet League 2 match between Portsmouth and Crawley Town at Fratton Park, Portsmouth, England on 2 January 2016. PPP-160201-152649006

Portsmouth went 2-0 in the first half hour taking advantage of poor defending with goals by Matt Clarke and Kyle Bennett.

The home side then added an 83rd-minute third goal from a breakaway attack which was netted by substitute Gary Roberts.

Mark Yates made three changes with goalkeeper Darryl Flahavan, Luke Rooney and Matt Harrold coming in for Callum Preston, Jon Ashton and Lee Barnard who had bruised ribs.

PortsmouthÃ¢Â¬"s Enda Stevens battles with CrawleyÃ¢Â¬"s Roarie Deacon during the Sky Bet League 2 match between Portsmouth and Crawley Town at Fratton Park, Portsmouth, England on 2 January 2016. PPP-160201-152817006

Matt Clarke gave the hosts the lead in the 14th minute when he headed home Ben Davies’ corner.

Reds’ centre back Yorwerth limped off with an injury and was replaced by Ashton.

Portsmouth pressed for a second goal and former Pompey player Sonny Bradley made a good block to deny Bennett.

Enda Stevens sent in a cross from the ledft which no-one could connect to.

PortsmouthÃ¢Â¬"s Marc McNulty scores his first goal of the match during the Sky Bet League 2 match between Portsmouth and Crawley Town at Fratton Park, Portsmouth, England on 2 January 2016. PPP-160201-153557006

However moments later another Stevens cross found Bennett six yards out who had time to control and put away a simple chance.

Portsmouth continued to press for a third and this time Bradley headed clear a chance by Bennett following a cross by Caolan Lavery.

Roarie Deacon broke away and created a rare chance for Reds, ending a good run down the right with a shot which was easily collected by keeper Brian Murphy.

Just before the break, Bennett had another chance which was saved by Flahavan after Simon Walton deflected the shot.

Jimmy Smith became Reds’ second injury victim at half-time with loanee Josh Emmanuel coming on.

Reds had their best chance of the game when Gwion Edwards took a free-kick from 25 yards which hit the crossbar.

Substitute Gavin Tomlin came on and within seconds stooped to head an effort on goal which was no problem for Murphy.

Bennett went close from 25 yards before at the other end, Deacon crossed for Harrold to shoot narrowly wide.

Portsmouth rubbed salt into the wounds with seven minutes to go through a third goal, created through a tremendous 70-yard run by substitute Ben Tollitt which was tapped in by Gary Roberts.

REDS: Flahavan, Walton, Bradley (Capt), Edwards, Smith (Emmanuel 46), Rooney (Tomlin 77), Young, Harrold, Deacon, Hancox, Yorwerth (Ashton 23)

Unused subs: Preston, Fenelon, Bawling, Jenkins

PORTSMOUTH: Murphy, Davies, Stevens, Webster, Doyle (Capt), McNulty (Roberts 67), Lavery (Chaplin 85), Clarke, Bennett, Evans (Tollitt 67), Hollands

Unused subs: Bass, McGurk, Barton, Atangana

REFEREE: Dean Whitestone

ATTENDANCE: 16,606 (567)

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