ALBION’S four game unbeaten run on the road came to an end as Portsmouth strengthened their position at the top of the table with a 2-1 win at Fratton Park.
A double from young striker Kusini Yengi secured victory for John Mousinho’s men but they were run close as John Brayford’s goal, ten minutes from time, set up a nervy finish.
It proved to be a game of two penalties. The first won by and converted by Yengi, in first half stoppage time and one not given when Albion substitute Bobby Kamwa seemed to be felled with Albion searching for a late equaliser.
Away to the league leaders it was a case of three changes from Saturday’s starting eleven. A slight injury kept Toto Nsiala out of the side meaning a reshuffle that saw Tom Hamer move inside to centre back and allowing Jake Caprice to return at right wing-back. Steve Seddon, at a former hunting ground, replaced Tolaji Bola on the opposite side of the defence whilst Mark Helm came back into midfield in place of Kamwa.
Albion made a positive start from kick-off and were inches away from an opening goal when Rekeem Harper fired a shot in from distance after just over 50 seconds and saw the ball smash against the crossbar.
Paddy Lane had the hosts first sight of goal a couple of minute later but could not keep his effort down.
The opening exchanges continued to look promising for both sides, Albion creating. Chance for Powell after good work down the left by Seddon and Helm with Powell curling his shot wide of the post.
Pompey skipper Marlon Pack then saw his free kick skim the top of the crossbar from 25 yards out as the game reached the quarter of an hour mark.
Skipper Brayford picked up what looked to be a harsh yellow card for a strong but ball winning challenge just out the box on former Albion loanee Christian Saydee as the first half continued at a fast pace and Owen Moxon’s free kick was not far over the top of Crocombe’s crossbar.
Pompey missed a gilt-edged chance to go in front on 37 minutes when they countered from a Burton corner. Yengi seemed to have a tap-in at the far post from Lane’s low cross but somehow contrived to screw it wide from a couple of yards out.
The home side ramped things up and Saydee was unable to make contact with a cross from Yengi before Marlon Pack forced a good save from Crocombe from 22 yards out.
Albion looked to have made it through to half time on level terms until referee Adam Herczeg penalised Deji Oshilaja for his challenge on YENGI inside the box, the young Pompey striker picking himself up to calmly slot home and make amends for his earlier miss.
HALF TIME: PORTSMOUTH 1-0 BURTON ALBION
A positive start to the second period almost yielded a quick equaliser. A low cross was hacked away giving Hamer the chance to hurl a long throw into the mix and when Will Norris hastily pushed the pushed away from goal Seddon was there to loop a header just wide.
A rare error from Brayford gave possession away to Pack on the edge of the Burotn box but the hosts could not take full advantage when the ball was squared across to Abu Kamara who skied his effort over the bar.
A double change from Albion just after the hour mark saw Albion push a second striker into the action as Ademola Ola-Adebomi joined Hugill with Harper sacrificed from the midfield along with Oshilaja who was replaced by Gilligan.
The pair had hardly had time to settle into the game when YENGI added a second from close range converting Kamara’s cross.
A further ttriple change midway through the half saw Albion play all their substitution cards. Mustapha Carayol, Bobby Kamwa and Antwoine Hackford all came on for Helm, Seddon and Hugill.
Albion made it an interesting last ten minutes when BRAYFORD latched onto a loose ball in the box to drill a low shot in that Will Norris in the home goal could only divert into the roof of his net.
There was a nervy moment for the home defence when a deep cross was collected by Kamwa and driving into the box he appeared to be brought down with referee Herczeg waving way vociferous Albion appeals.
As much as Albion pushed for an equaliser late on the hosts kept their heads and saw it through to deny a valiant Albion performance any reward from their long trip to the south coast.
ALBION: Crocombe; Caprice, Hamer, Brayford, Sweeney, Seddon (Kamwa, 68); Helm (Carayol, 68), Harper (Ola-Adebomi, 61), Powell, Oshilaja (Gilligan, 61); Hugill (Hackford, 68).
Substitutes: Blackman, Bola.
GOALS: POMPEY – Yengi (45+3, 63) ; ALBION – Brayford (80)
Referee: Adam Herczeg
Attendance: 19,536
