Matthew Taylor and Vincent Pericard struck to give Portsmouth victory at
promotion rivals Nottingham Forest, and keep Harry Redknapp's side four points
clear at the top of the first division.
Pompey dominated throughout, but it took a wonderful strike from Taylor after
55 minutes to break the Forest resistance.
On-loan Juventus striker Vincent Pericard added a second with five minutes
remaining to seal the points, despite a late consolation from Michael Dawson.
Portsmouth came out of the blocks the quicker and striker Deon Burton tested
Darren Ward in the Forest goal after 30 seconds.
Midfielder Andrew Reid had the hosts' first opportunity, testing Pompey keeper
Shaka Hislop from long range on nine minutes.
Forest boss Paul Hart was forced to reshuffle his pack five minutes later when
experienced defender Des Walker was taken off injured and replaced by youngster
Chris Doig.
The 21-year-old was immediately in the action as Portsmouth top scorer
Svetoslav Todorov carved a chance for Burton who somehow missed the target from
10 yards.
Forest picked up the pace after that and Arjan De Zeeuw crucially headed clear
a Mathieu Louis-Jean cross.
The lively Reid then almost gave Forest a fortuitous lead when his outswinging
cross came back off the bar with Hislop well beaten.
Portsmouth dominated possession after that but struggled to pierce a stubborn
Forest backline, though Ward had to react quickly to smother the ball with
Todorov chasing a Harper through-ball.
Pompey started the second half like they ended the first, and Ward had to be
alert to cut out Gary O'Neil's cross with a host of players waiting to tap in.
The Forest stopper was called into action yet again on 54 minutes, this time
blocking Todorov's tight-angled header from a deep Burton cross.
But the visitors were not be denied much longer, and soon after Taylor gave
his side a deserved lead.
He picked up the ball 35 yards out on the left, cut inside and unleashed a
stunning 25-yard right-foot strike which dipped over the despairing dive of
Ward.
Forest tried to push on, and felt they had a claim for a penalty when John
Thompson, a half-time replacement for Louis-Jean, appeared to be pushed in the
area by Linvoy Primus.
Todorov wasted a good chance to double the visitors' lead when he headed over
Harper's cross from 10 yards.
Two substitutes then combined to make the points safe for Portsmouth.
Jason Crowe's shot was well saved by Ward, but the ball fell nicely to
Pericard who tapped in from close range.
Forest pulled one back in the last minute when Dawson headed home a Gareth
Williams cross, but it was too little too late.
Teams
Nottm Forest Ward, Louis-Jean (Thompson 45), Dawson,
Walker (Doig 15), Brennan, Williams, Prutton,
Jess (Westcarr 78), Reid, Johnson, Lester.
Subs Not Used: Roche, Bopp.
Booked: Johnson.
Goals: Dawson 90.
Portsmouth Hislop, Primus, Foxe, De Zeeuw, Harper (Crowe 86),
O'Neil, Diabate, Quashie, Taylor, Todorov, Burton (Pericard 80).
Subs Not Used: Kawaguchi, Robinson, Burchill.
Booked: Taylor.
Goals: Taylor 56, Pericard 87.
Att: 28,165
Ref: C Foy (Merseyside).
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