[maxbutton name=”Portsmouth”] [maxbutton name=”Button 60″ url=”http://www.thejoycircuit.co.uk/PortsmouthFC/20_21/pfc_results.htm” text=”2020/2021″]
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[maxbutton name=”Away”]|[spacer height=”8px”]League 1[spacer height=”8px”]||
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|[spacer height=”20px”]Lincoln City[spacer height=”15px”]|[spacer height=”20px”]1[spacer height=”15px”]|
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|[spacer height=”20px”]Portsmouth[spacer height=”15px”]|[spacer height=”20px”]3[spacer height=”15px”]|
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FORM GUIDE
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[maxbutton name=”Won” url=”http://www.thejoycircuit.co.uk/joycircuit/archives/57573″ linktitle=”Lincoln City”] [maxbutton name=”Lost” url=”http://www.thejoycircuit.co.uk/joycircuit/archives/57488″ linktitle=”Charlton Athletic”] [maxbutton name=”Won” url=”http://www.thejoycircuit.co.uk/joycircuit/archives/57439″ linktitle=”Northampton Town”] [maxbutton name=”Won” url=”http://www.thejoycircuit.co.uk/joycircuit/archives/57387″ linktitle=”Sunderland”] [maxbutton name=”Won” url=”http://www.thejoycircuit.co.uk/joycircuit/archives/57343″ linktitle=”Gillingham”] [maxbutton name=”Lost” url=”http://www.thejoycircuit.co.uk/joycircuit/archives/57293″ linktitle=”Doncaster Rovers”] [maxbutton name=”Won” url=”http://www.thejoycircuit.co.uk/joycircuit/archives/56907″ linktitle=”MK Dons”] [maxbutton name=”Won” url=”http://www.thejoycircuit.co.uk/joycircuit/archives/56706″ linktitle=”Southend United”] [maxbutton name=”Won” url=”http://www.thejoycircuit.co.uk/joycircuit/archives/56580″ linktitle=”Burton Albion”] [maxbutton name=”Lost” url=”http://www.thejoycircuit.co.uk/joycircuit/archives/56274″ linktitle=”Wigan Athletic”]
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John Marquis bagged a brace to ensure Pompey maintained their excellent away record with a convincing win at Lincoln.
The striker was teed-up by Marcus Harness in the fifth minute of each half to give the visitors a commanding lead.
There were a hatful of chances for the Blues to extend their advantage and Ronan Curtis duly took one of them before Tom Hopper grabbed an Imps consolation.
Kenny Jackett made one change from the side that were beaten on home soil by Charlton at the weekend.
It was an enforced one, as Jack Whatmough’s hamstring injury presented Rasmus Nicolaisen with a first League One start.
But the Blues boss was forced to make a further switch when Lee Brown also hurt his hamstring in the warm-up.
Cam Pring was elevated from the bench to the left-back berth, with Alfie Stanley taking his spot among the substitutes.
But the late alteration did not seem to affect the visitors, who got the contest of to a blistering opening.
Harness slipped a neat pass through to Ryan Williams, whose low drive was saved by Imps keeper Alex Palmer on four minutes.
And the duo were involved again when the deadlock was broken in Pompey’s favour just a few moments later.
They combined to find MARQUIS in the box, with the striker cutting onto his right foot and curling home a sumptuous finish.
In truth, though, there were not abundance of clear-cut opportunities at either end of the pitch in the first half.
The Blues were showcasing some patient passing build-up play, but a final killer ball was lacking as they went in search of a second goal.
Lincoln grew into the contest and when Craig MacGillivray could only punch away a corner, Tom Naylor threw himself into the path of Sean Roughan’s shot.
Robbie Gotts then tried a long-range curling effort that flew safely into the hands of the Blues keeper.
Nicolaisen was proving a composed presence in the back-line and made one fine sliding challenge to dispossess Brennan Johnson.
Pompey picked up the pace as the interval drew close, but when Williams cut the ball back for Naylor, the skipper’s strike was bravely blocked by Adam Jackson.
Half Time
Lincoln City 0
Portsmouth 1
The visitors were quickly out of the traps when the action resumed and Curtis hit a 25-yard effort that dipped not too far over the bar.
And the lead was soon doubled when Harness curled a superb delivery into the box and Palmer could not get enough of a hand on MARQUIS’ header to stop it finding the net.
Things might have got even better for the Blues, but Williams was unable to beat Palmer from an acute angle.
The chances kept coming and the Australian winger stooped to meet Callum Johnson’s cross, but glanced his header wide.
Pring then cut the ball back for Harness, whose fierce drilled effort was deflected narrowly past the post.
Pompey were rampant and looking dangerous with every attack, as Williams collected a threaded Curtis pass and rounded Palmer.
He then fired the ball across the face of goal, where Marquis – sensing a hat-trick – dived in, but could not quite make contact.
But a third goal did arrive just past the hour mark, with CURTIS on hand to drill home when Palmer saved Williams’ initial effort.
That failed to dampen their attacking enthusiasm, though, and Palmer had to be at his best to keep out a header from the lively Williams.
But Lincoln had a lifeline on 73 minutes when Hopper headed in a Harry Anderson delivery from a few yards out.
Jackett soon decided to make a substitution, shoring up Pompey’s midfield by replacing Curtis with Ben Close.
The visitors were still posing a threat and when the newcomer chested the ball down, Williams’ effort was deflected narrowly wide.
Jackett was able to use all his changes as the minutes ticked down, with Bryn Morris and Haji Mnoga both getting time on the pitch – the latter making his league debut.
And Pompey saw out the closing stages with relative ease, as they continued to enjoy life on the road.
Lincoln (4-3-3): Palmer; Gotts (Anderson 63), Eyoma, Jackson, Roughan; Jones (Archibald 82), Grant, McGrandles; Scully, Hopper, Johnson
Goals: Hopper 73
Booked: Grant
Subs not used: Ross, Melbourne, Elbouzedi, Edun, Howarth
Pompey (4-2-3-1): MacGillivray; Johnson, Raggett, Nicolaisen, Pring; Naylor (c) (Morris 81), Cannon; Harness (Mnoga 89), Williams, Curtis (Close 75); Marquis
Goals: Marquis 5, 50, Curtis 61
Booked: Curtis, Marquis
Subs not used: Bass, Pring, Hiwula, Harrison
Referee: Carl Brook
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