Portsmouth moved off the bottom of Division One and picked up their fourth
straight league win after a single goal victory over Tranmere.
Australian international striker John Aloisi's 37th minute strike was enough
to give Allan Ball's side three more crucial points in their battle to avoid
relegation.
Aloisi finished off with a low drive after being put through on goal by
impressive Greek international midfielder Michalis Vlachos.
Two minutes before the goal Vlachos had been denied his first strike for the
club when Andrew Thompson headed his effort off the line.
Tranmere could have opened the scoring after just two minutes when Graham
Branch got round the back of Andy Awford but he saw his fierce drive palmed away
by Aaron Flahavan.
Aloisi was denied a goal after eight minutes when Tranmere keeper Steve
Simonsen acrobatically tipped his header over the crossbar.
Three minutes later Pompey almost took the lead courtesy of an own goal when
Liam O'Brien almost turned the ball past his own keeper.
And Tranmere had a great chance to go ahead midway through the first half when
John Morrissey whipped in a cross which Gary Jones failed to convert with a
diving header.
Soon after David Hillier blasted a 25-yard shot just over the Tranmere
crossbar as Pompey began to control things in midfield.
Two half-time substitutions by Tranmere manager John Aldridge saw David Kelly
and Stephen Frail enter the game and Tranmere began to reap the benefit.
Kelly had two efforts ruled out for off-side early after the break, before
glancing another header inches wide of the Pompey goal.
Jamaican international Paul Hall had a great chance to increase Pompey's lead
when he was put clear on goal but he screwed his shot wide of the Tranmere
goal.
Teams
Portsmouth: Flahavan, Pethick, Robinson, McLoughlin (Simpson 73),
Whitbread, Awford, Vlachos, Claridge, Aloisi (Hall 73),
Hillier (Allen 88), Thomson.
Goals: Aloisi 37.
Tranmere: Simonsen, Morgan (Frail 46), Thompson, McGreal,0
Challinor, Irons (Kelly 46), Morrissey, Mellon, Jones, O'Brien,
Branch, Frail (Mahon 71).
Booked: Morgan, Mahon.
Att: 12,250
Ref: R J Harris (Oxford).
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