POMPEY’S CHARGE IS FIRMLY ON
PORTSMOUTH remain on course for promotion to League One after a comfortable win over struggling Yeovil, their sixth victory in seven games
Pompey now have an eightpoint cushion over the chasing pack and know that eight points from their remaining five games will seal it.
The home side took an early lead from a Gareth Evans penalty against Yeovil, only to see the visitors draw level after the break through Francois Zoko.
But Portsmouth’s extra quality told in the closing stages as goals from Kal Naismith and Jamal Lowe sealed a deserved three points ahead of their Dockyard Derby clash with second-placed Plymouth on Good Friday.
Pompey boss Paul Cook said: “I’m pleased with the result and it’s about what we do. The onus is on other teams now because we are ahead of them and they have to catch up.
“The lads deserve great credit for bouncing back from conceding an equaliser against the run of play and then going on the dominate the game and deservedly getting the win.
“We can enjoy this, enjoy getting the win and then we can look forward to a big game against Plymouth on Friday.
“We must stay focused now and realise what we can achieve as a football club if we keep winning matches.”
Yeovil are now just seven points above the League Two relegation zone – and head to second-bottom Newport on Good Friday.
Boss Darren Way said: “You can see the quality that Portsmouth have got on the pitch and what a big club they are with the support they receive.
“I was conscious of how my younger players would handle the pressure and up until the penalty they were doing ok.
“We battled well to come back from that blow to equalise but after that I was disappointed with the two goals we conceded to lose the game.
“It’s important not to be too critical and we have to make sure we stick together and remain strong ahead of our game with Newport on Friday.”
After Tom Eaves missed an early chance for Yeovil, Pompey were given the chance to open the scoring when Bevis Mugabi tripped Gary Roberts.
Evans stepped up to confidently beat Town keeper Artur Krysiak.
After the break the Glovers levelled when Zoko put Enda Stevens under pressure and got a toe to the ball to send it looping over David Forde.
But on 68 minutes the hosts restored their lead as Stevens got clear down the left and crossed for Naismith. And with 12 minutes left they secured victory as sub Lowe scored his first goal for the club, netting from a tight angle after cutting in from the right flank.