Notts survive nail-biting Portsmouth clash

Notts County came through their biggest test of the season thus far with flying colours as they held on to clinch a 2-1 win over high-flying Portsmouth at Meadow Lane for their sixth home win in seven.

The visitors created two good chances in the first 10 minutes as Adam Webster headed inches wide from Ben Davies’ corner before Adam McGurk’s through ball freed Gareth Evans, but Roy Carroll was equal to his effort.

Ricardo Moniz’s side replied with Izale McLeod and Graham Burke forcing Brian Murphy into two quickfire stops, but Pompey took the lead through Caolan Lavery after 20 minutes as he guided home Enda Stevens’s cross from a couple of yards out.

County were not behind for long, however, came a couple of minutes later with an Alan Sheehan free kick cleared only as far as Graham Burke, who volleyed home from the edge of the box to put his side level.

Portsmouth's response was swift and Lavery almost restored his side’s lead with a near-post drive that was beaten away by Carroll, who in turn then palmed Adam Webster's shot onto the post.

In the second half the Magpies gained the advantage as a long free kick from Sheehan was not dealt with and went straight past Murphy to send the home crowd wild.

Paul Cook’s side responded admirably and ensured a scary, nail-biting finale to the game, appropriate given the date, but there was a happy ending for Notts fans as they secured a first win against a top ten side this season.