Reading's Mackie battles with Pericard.
Click here for full match stats
Portsmouth moved back to the top of the Nationwide First Division table with a
comfortable victory over play-off chasing Reading.
Harry Redknapp's promoted side went into the game knowing that a win or draw
would send them back to the summit after Leicester's defeat at Sheffield United
earlier in the day, and they did not disappoint.
Striker Vincent Pericard, making his first start since January, scored twice
in the first half to put Pompey firmly in command, before leading scorer
Svetoslav Todorov secured victory with 20 minutes remaining.
The home side started brightly, with Todorov's fierce shot blocked by defender
Adie Williams after 41 seconds, before Harper let fly with a 25-yard effort that
was safely gathered by Marcus Hahnemann.
Reading lost defender Steve Brown to injury shortly afterwards, and conceded a
goal within minutes.
Kevin Harper burst forward from his own half, jinking past two defenders
before laying the ball into the path of Pericard, who drilled home his first
goal at Fratton Park since November.
Newman forced Shaka Hislop into a diving stop after 27 minutes as the visitors
looked for a quick response, but Portsmouth were dominating proceedings.
Nigel Quashie was denied by a stunning stop from Hahnemann, before Pericard
struck again.
After a scramble in the area, the ball finally landed at the feet of the
striker. His first shot was blocked by Williams, but he made no mistake with the
rebound, hammering the ball past the keeper.
Reading, who brought on Darius Henderson in place of the ineffective Luke
Chadwick, almost got back into the game on the hour mark as Graeme Murty headed
wide from close range.
The Royals' top scorer Nicky Forster drilled a shot wide six minutes later,
and their poor finishing was punished shortly afterwards as Pompey wrapped up
the points.
The Reading defence allowed Todorov to run and run unopposed, and he turned
the last man before slotting the ball past Hahnemann for his 21st goal of the
campaign.
Teams
Portsmouth Hislop, Primus, Foxe, Festa, Stone, Sherwood,
Merson (Diabate 88), Quashie (O'Neil 90), Harper (De Zeeuw 85),
Pericard, Todorov.
Subs Not Used: Kawaguchi, Burton.
Goals: Pericard 19, 45, Todorov 71.
Reading Hahnemann, Murty, Williams, Brown (Mackie 16), Shorey,
Chadwick (Henderson 57), Hughes (Salako 76), Newman, Harper,
Little, Forster.
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Cureton.
Booked: Hahnemann.
Att: 19,535
Ref: G Cain (Merseyside).
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