Match Report: Portsmouth 2-0 Southend United

High flying Pompey breeze past Southend United at Fratton Park.

Portsmouth’s superiority showed in the final third, helping the blues to retain top spot of League One.  

Ronan Curtis provided the threat throughout the 90-minutes, causing Southend’s defence problems throughout. He made Southend pay when his low curling ball into the box was bundled into the net by the experienced Michael Turner as he tried to stop Pompey striker Oli Hawkins from getting a touch. 

Southend’s only real chance of the game came from a free-kick, Mantom took the set-piece from the left-hand side, sent the ball high and into the box, the ball was left in the box but Pompey’s Tom Naylor was on hand to head the ball away.

Portsmouth broke on the counter throughout the match, with Curtis down the left again causing problems for the second goal of the game He and Matt Clarke combined and the number 11 curled a ball into the box which was connected by the head of Jamal Lowe who flicked the ball into the bottom corner.

Southend manager Powell made one change at half-time with Michael Turner being swapped for natural left-back Stephen Hendrie, as the away side looked to get back into the match.

Pompey continued to dominate the second half, with Pompey keeper MacGillivray not having to be involved throughout much of the action.