Portsmouth moved to within two points of the play-off places with a third successive win as they beat struggling Walsall 1-0 to consign new boss Dean Keates to a second straight loss in charge.
The visitors controlled the first half and Ben Close should have done better than scuff a close-range volley straight at Walsall goalkeeper Liam Roberts from Gareth Evans' 12th-minute cross.
Pompey's 18-goal top scorer Brett Pitman twice glanced headers wide while Close volleyed off-target when Dion Donohue's long throw found him free inside the area.
Portsmouth continued to dominate after the break, Kal Naismith whipping a vicious effort inches wide from 20 yards and seeing another shot flash across goal and just past the post.
Walsall took until the 73rd minute to threaten as Luke Leahy's cross was met by a first-time Amadou Bakayoko volley that flew just over.
But Pompey deservedly won it six minutes later as Jamal Lowe teed-up Evans to fizz a fine strike into the bottom corner from 18 yards and condemn Walsall to a sixth defeat in their last seven.
English League One Standings
| POS | Team | GP | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lincoln City | 3 | +8 | 9 |
| 2 | Blackpool | 3 | +5 | 9 |
| 3 | Wycombe Wanderers | 3 | +3 | 7 |
| 4 | Coventry City | 3 | +3 | 7 |
| 5 | Fleetwood Town | 3 | +2 | 6 |
| 6 | Rotherham United | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| 7 | Doncaster Rovers | 3 | +1 | 5 |
| 8 | Ipswich Town | 3 | +1 | 5 |
| 9 | Sunderland | 3 | +1 | 5 |
| 10 | Rochdale | 3 | +1 | 5 |
| 11 | Oxford United | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| 12 | Shrewsbury Town | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| 13 | Tranmere Rovers | 3 | +2 | 3 |
| 14 | Milton Keynes Dons | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 15 | Portsmouth | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 16 | Burton Albion | 3 | -1 | 3 |
| 17 | Gillingham | 2 | -1 | 1 |
| 18 | AFC Wimbledon | 3 | -2 | 1 |
| 19 | Accrington Stanley | 2 | -2 | 1 |
| 20 | Peterborough United | 3 | -3 | 1 |
| 21 | Bristol Rovers | 3 | -4 | 1 |
| 22 | Southend United | 3 | -7 | 0 |
| 23 | Bolton Wanderers | 3 | -7 | -11 |
| 24 | Bury | 0 | 0 | -12 |
League One News
![]()
Reports of discrimination rise in English football
Reports of discrimination across all levels of English football rose by 32 percent last season, according to a study released by Kick It Out.
![]()
Fleetwood boss Barton charged with ABH
Fleetwood Town manager Joey Barton has been charged with actual bodily harm over an incident at Barnsley after a match in April.
![]()
Brewster nets brace in Liverpool's warmup win
Rhian Brewster scored two goals and added an assist as Liverpool defeated Tranmere Rovers in a pre-season match at Prenton Park.
![]()
Last-gasp goal wins Charlton Championship promotion
Charlton Athletic came back from an early own goal to score a stoppage time winner against Sunderland and secure promotion to the Championship.
![]()
Charlton howler gifts Sunderland early lead
English League One: Mahamadou-Naby Sarr (5' OG) Charlton Athletic 0-1 Sunderland
![]()
McLaughlin's heroics send Sunderland to League One playoff final
Jon McLaughlin made save after save to preserve the clean sheet in a 1-0 aggregate victory over Portsmouth and advance to the League One playoff final at Wembley.
