Classy Kevin Cooper climbed off the bench to steer Wimbledon to a 2-1 victory over Portsmouth in the First Division clash at Fratton Park.

The midfielder, subject to a £1million bid by West Ham, struck a 77th-minute equaliser just 12 minutes after entering the fray.

Seven minutes from time, he provided the cross for Republic of Ireland international David Connolly to score the winner.

It was only Connolly's second goal this year but one which has kept alive the Dons' lingering hopes of a play-off place.

Manager Terry Burton has rubbished the reports linking Cooper, an £800,000 buy from Stockport a year ago, with a switch to Upton Park.

Burton has been forced to release a number of players in the summer to ease the club's finances, but said of the Cooper rumours: "It's news to me. Kevin's been playing very well so obviously clubs will be interested. But he's not out of contract and I want to keep him here because he has had a good season."

Wimbledon's double second-half strike was reward for a stirring display after Leonardo Biagini had given injury-hit Portsmouth a half-time lead.

The Argentinian forward, on loan from Real Mallorca for whom he has figured in the Champions League this season, opened the scoring in the fourth minute.

He converted a cross by Nigel Quashie into the bottom corner of the net to score his second goal in consecutive games having opened his account in the 3-0 home win over promotion-chasing Millwall on Saturday.

It seemed to be enough to give Portsmouth, without a number of first-team players including Croatia star Robert Prosinecki, their fifth successive win.

But Wimbledon, with only one defeat in nine games now, refused to buckle and are now nine points off a play-off spot.

Biagini settled Portsmouth with his early goal before Graham Rix saw his injury woes worsened when defender Jamie Vincent was replaced by Shaun Cooper in only the 11th minute.

Vincent needed to pass a fitness test in order to take his place in the starting line-up after sustaining a knee injury.

Wimbledon, again minus striker Neil Shipperley and with Connolly out of scoring form, rarely troubled former goalkeeper Dave Beasant in the first half.

Highly-rated youngster Lionel Morgan, being tracked by Tottenham, saw an early effort hacked away by Scott Hiley before Trond Anderson fired over the crossbar with Wimbledon's first real shot at goal in the 25th minute.

Portsmouth, who were unbeaten in four games, came close to doubling their lead two minutes later when Biagini unleashed a shot from the edge of the box which Kelvin Davis did well to parry, with Steve Lovell's follow-up going wide.

Beasant was called to make his first save in the 33rd minute when Peter Hawkins fired in a 20-yard effort, after Connolly's original shot was blocked, but the veteran goalkeeper made an orthodox stop.

Wimbledon shown much more urgency after the break and Joel McAnuff saw a snap-shot blocked before his second opportunity flew wide from 25 yards.

Two minutes later Damien Francis nearly got Wimbledon back on level terms but Beasant pulled off a fine save to deny him.

At the other end, Lovell fired over from the edge of the penalty area before he was replaced by Neil Barrett while McAnuff tried his luck for a third time with Beasant again equal to the task.

However, Beasant was finally beaten when Cooper slotted home after David Waterman had partially cleared Patrick Agyemang's shot before Connolly netted his second in three games to earn the visitors victory.

Teams

Portsmouth: Beasant, Vincent (Cooper 12), Waterman, Hiley, Buxton, Curtis, Quashie (Vine 85), Derry, Crouch, Lovell (Barrett 63), Biagini.

Subs Not Used: Tardif, Pettefer.

Booked: Derry, Barrett.

Goals: Biagini 4.

Wimbledon: Davis, Cunningham, Holloway, Willmott, Hawkins, Francis, Andersen (Cooper 66), Morgan (Ardley 66), McAnuff, Connolly, Agyemang (Nowland 81).

Subs Not Used: Feuer, Williams.

Booked: Cunningham, Ardley.

Goals: Cooper 77, Connolly 84.

Att: 13,118

Ref: K Hill (Royston).