Two goals from Chris Bart-Williams helped Nottingham Forest renew their
promotion challenge after a stutter in form.
Bart-Williams struck twice in the first half to help Forest end a run of only
one point from their previous four matches.
Sorry Portsmouth forced 12 corners but only once troubled veteran goalkeeper
Dave Beasant.
Then Lee Mills drilled a shot against his legs after 24 minutes.
Defender Carl Tiler headed over a free-kick from Lee Sharpe but these were
rare moments of hope for Portsmouth who were outplayed in the first half.
Bart-Williams opened the scoring in the 11th minute when Scott Hiley handled
as he slid on the rain-soaked surface under a challenge from David Johnson.
Bart-Williams scored again in the 37th minute when a Portsmouth move broke
down in their own half and after Stern John had struck the post from the edge of
the area, Bart-Williams followed up on the rebound.
Portsmouth manager Graham Rix responded to the booing from home supporters at
the interval by bringing on Michael Panopoulos and Luke Nightingale.
Beasant saved with his feet from Mills and Steve Lovell twice had shots
comfortably gathered by the goalkeeper.
Bart-Williams had the chance to complete a hat-trick with seven minutes
remaining but from inside the area drilled a shot over the bar.
At the final whistle there were more angry scenes and booing from Portsmouth
fans as the result and the performance saw them drop closer to the relegation
danger zone.
The defeat was their fifth at home this season and there was little to comfort
the former Chelsea coach who went into the match without 10 injured players.
For Forest the result was the perfect antidote to the heavy defeat at Watford
in midweek and the return of midfield star Andy Johnson made a big difference.
Teams:
Portsmouth: Tardif, Vincent, Crowe, Tiler, Hiley, Harper,
Sharpe, Brady (Panopoulos 45), Mills (Pettefer 82), Lovell,
Wolleaston (Nightingale 45).
Subs Not Used: Flahavan, Waterman.
Nottm Forest: Beasant, Hjelde, Doig, Benali, Prutton, Scimeca,
Andy Johnson, Bart-Williams, Gray, John, David Johnson.
Subs Not Used: Roche, Jones, Harewood, Edwards, Edds.
Goals: Bart-Williams 11 pen, 38.
Att: 13,018
Ref: R Furnandiz (Doncaster).
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