- Defoe (32), Defoe (90)
- Date:2008-03-29
- Kick-off:15:00
- Venue:Fratton Park
- Attendance:18623
- Referee:Wiley, A
Live Commentary
90mins
The final whistle blows and Pompey march on towards Europe, Wigan are now staring relegation straight in the face.
90mins
As Wigan pile forward Pompey break and Defoe is presented with a perfect opportunity, racing through one on one with Kirkland and the Englishman slotted home his eighth in seven games for Portsmouth.
90mins
King hits a shot straight at James in the Portsmouth goal as his team-mates scream for a pass inside the box.
90mins
As the game moves ever closer towards the final whistle the game is becoming stretched and this really is the final chance for Wigan to steal a point.
89mins
The resulting corner is delivered high into the box and after some desperate defending, Porstmouth clear.
88mins
Heskey sends a great ball through to Sibierski and the Frenchman watches the ball on the bounce, hitting a great shot which is heading under the crossbar before James sticks out a hand to make another terrific stop.
87mins
Melchiot comes off to be replaced by Julius Aghahowa, they now have five recognised strikers on the field of play.
86mins
King tries to swing in a cross for the head of Sibierski but James comes out well to save and hold on to the ball.
85mins
The attacking changes made by Bruce here don't appear to be making much difference and you have to feel that it's already game over the visitors.
83mins
Defoe has been causing havoc in the Wigan defence all afternoon and he is not letting up here, forcing Kilbane to foul him on the edge of the area.
81mins
The home support are beginning to find their voice her in the final stages as they try to urge their team on to victory.
79mins
Heskey has been allowed a massive amount of space inside the box and tries to slide the ball under legs of James, the goalkeeper is equal to it however to deny Wigan once again.
78mins
Sibierski fires in a shot from 12 yards which takes a massive deflection off Johnson for a corner.
76mins
Hagen runs off the field to be replaced by Marlon King, the Jamaican scored in midweek for his Country, can he do it again here?
74mins
Heskey chaces down a ball from his own half which James has to out for and the England 'keeper smashes the ball out of play.
73mins
Utaka makes way for Richard Hughes as Harry Redknapp makes his last change of the afternoon.
72mins
Johnson makes one of his trademark runs down the flank and decides that the shot is on for him here, he lets off a shot which Kirkland has to palm round the post, it's been a very busy afternoon for the stopper.
70mins
Baros leaves the field, he has been rather anonymous out there today, his replacement is going to be David Nugent.
68mins
Antoine Sibierski is brought on for Taylor who has picked up a slight niggle out here, Wigan must also be looking at the substitution to add to their attacking threat.
67mins
A corner floats over, landing at the feet of Johnson who hits a volley through a crowd of players and Kirkland has to get down to tip the shot away.
66mins
Taylor turns on the ball and lets off a snap shot which is saved easily by James.
64mins
Saved by James!! What a brilliant stop that way, England's number one threw himself full length at the ball and saved the follow up too, sending the home fans into raptures.
62mins
Sylvain Distin has had a rather quiet game so far here but he finds himself at the centre of the action, bringing down Valencia in the box with a rash challenge and Mr. Riley points to the spot!
60mins
Lauren is brought on for Hermann Hreidarsson who has picked up an injury.
59mins
Skoko picks up a yellow card for the foul on Baros.
58mins
Josip Skoko brings down Baros with a hefty challenge and could go into the book here.
57mins
Heskey wins the ball in the air, bringing the ball down on his chest before finding Taylor, the latter firing his shot way over the bar.
55mins
Taylor is left in a heap on the floor from a strong challenge and is going to need treatment on the sidelines.
54mins
Kranjcar beats Kilbane and then Scharner, unleashing a powerful effort which flies high and wide.
52mins
Davis takes delivers an outswinging corner to the edge of the area but Scharner is there and hoofs the ball clear.
50mins
Mendes eats up the ground in front of him as Pompey break away and drives into the heart of the Latics defence Emmerson Boyce having to track back well to clear the danger for the Lancashire side.
49mins
Taylor makes a bit of room for himself on the edge of the area and lets off a shot as support is lacking, the effort however is sent straight into the arms of James.
47mins
Scharner becomes the second player to enter the referee's notebook following a trip on Pedro Mendes.
45mins
The second half kicks off, let's hope this half provides more excitement than the first.
45mins
The whistle goes as Alan Wiley sounds for the end of the half after a poor opening 45 minutes.
45mins
The fourth official indicates that there will be a minimum of two minute added on at the end of this first period of play.
43mins
Portsmouth are doing well to force Wigan back into their own half and only have to hang on for a few more minutes before the close of the half.
41mins
Heskey tries his luck from the edge of the area but this time former England team-mate Sol Campbell gets his body in the way.
39mins
Scharner runs onto a throw-in and lets off a quick shot for the far post but James is more than happy to watch the ball sail wide of the mark.
38mins
Scharner has a second bite at the cherry here through a free kick, he runs up and smashes the ball... high into the stands.
36mins
The corner comes to nothing however and Steve Bruce is not happy with the delivery, racing to the edge of the technical area to vent his anger.
35mins
A chance for Heskey from the edge of the area but as he goes to pull the trigger Davis throws himself at the ball to deflect out for a corner.
34mins
A second goal almost here as kranjcar unleashes a trademark rasping drive from distance which Kirkland does superbly with one again, tipping round for another corner.
32mins
Mr. Wiley dishes out a yellow card to Defoe in the aftermath of celebrations.
31mins
John Utaka beats Kevin Kilbane all ends up, firing a shot in which takes a massive deflection on its way through to DEFOE at the back post who slots home the opening goal of the afternoon to brighten up a dull first half.
30mins
Pompey are beginning to resort to long-ball tactics here, James lofting a high, searching ball up to Defoe and co but the wind gets hold of the ball and sends it out of play.
29mins
Heskey breaks free of the offside trap and tries to get onto a through ball but a late flag stops him in his tracks.
27mins
Paul Scharner is over the ball. He fires in a dipping, swerving effort but unfortunately for the visitors the ball flies over the crossbar.
26mins
Sean Davis brings down Heskey with a rash tackle and Alan Wiley is quick to the spot to hand Wigan a free kick.
25mins
Claims for handball here as Kirkland comes sliding out of his area to make a save but his hands are clearly still inside the box.
23mins
The race is on between Hagen and Defoe for a ball over the top and in the end Kirkland comes out to clear the ball into touch.
22mins
The tempo of the match is being constantly stemmed by both sets of midfielders, Portsmouth will be hoping that they can turn on their usual attacking football.
20mins
The players at the moment who are looking as though they could have a major say in the outcome of this match are Heskey, Defoe and Johnson, it will be interesting to see what role they play in the remainder of this encounter.
19mins
Taylor tries to curl a shot from just inside the box round James and into the keeper's left hand post but the effort is sent just a yard wide.
18mins
Despite the early chances here in this match, it is the defences who are on top so far.
16mins
A throw-in comes in from the left hand side which isn't picked up by the Wigan defence and Defoe unleashes a snap-shot over the visitors' bar.
15mins
Luis Antonio Valencia receives the ball from a good Heskey pass, he slides the ball towards goal but a charging run from Johnson from right back deflects the shot over a grounded David James and onto the crossbar!
13mins
Jermain Defoe finds himself wide out on the right and looks up to send a pass to his forward team-mate Baros but his pass ends up with the home support.
12mins
After a moment of dispute over kick taker, Kranjcar steps up and fires in a bending shot round the wall and only inches past the far post.
10mins
Hagen brings down Baros with a clumsy challenge and Pompey have a free kick in a dangerous position.
9mins
Baros drives forward and tries to get past the challenge of Mario Melchiot but the Dutch defender does well to get his body in the way and the danger has past.
7mins
Portsmouth are enjoying much of the early possession here but Wigan are defending well, Kirkland immediately returning to form after injury.
5mins
The corner comes in but it pretty poor and Emmerson Boyce heads clear for the Latics.
4mins
Niko Kranjcar brings the ball forward, giving it to Milan Baros who returns the favour, he fires in a rasping drive which the fit again Chris Kirkland brilliantly turns round the post for a corner.
3mins
Ryan Taylor takes an outswinging corner which finds the head of Emile Heskey, the striker rises and heads towards goal but Alan Riley has already blown for an earlier infringement.
1mins
Glen Johnson takes an early free kick and sends the ball deep into the Wigan area but the ball is cleared by the head of Erik Hagen.
0mins
The match gets underway at a fairly quiet Fratton Park on a blustery afternoon.
0mins
Alan Wiley takes to the helm for today's fixture, the Staffordshire official has handed out 83 yellow cards and just a single red card in his 25 games this season, Blackburn's Ryan Nelsen the unfortunate recipient of the sending off.
0mins
A struggling Wigan travel to the South coast currently five points above the drop zone and will be hoping to improve on their average of just a point a game during this season's campaign.
0mins
Portsmouth striker Jermain Defoe returns to action after having to sit out against former club Spurs last week and will be looking to add to his six goals in six games since his move to Fratton Park.
0mins
Wigan XI: Kirkland, Melchiot, Boyce, Hagen, Kilbane, Valencia, Skoko, Scharner, Taylor, Heskey, Bent.
0mins
Portsmouth XI: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Utaka, Davis, Pedro Mendes, Kranjcar, Baros, Defoe.
Match Preview
Portsmouth must recover from last weekend's disappointing defeat at Tottenham as they continue to scrap for a top-six finish.
Harry Redknapp's side had won three games in a row before the 2-0 loss at White Hart Lane and had guided the south coast side into the FA Cup semi-finals.
With Portsmouth just one point clear of Aston Villa, Blackburn and Manchester City, a win over Wigan is vital if that gap is to be maintained.
The news of an injury to midfielder Lassana Diarra, whose hamstring problem forced him to withdraw from the France squad earlier this week, won't help Pompey's cause.
"Lassana's struggling for Saturday, I don't want to risk him. Hamstrings can be dangerous and I've got to make sure that he's right," said Redknapp.
That creates a midfield selection dilemma for Redknapp, with Sulley Muntari and Papa Diop already suspended for the second game running.
Richard Hughes, who has made just 11 Premier League appearances this season, should keep his place although Arnold Mvuemba continues to push for a starting role.
Wigan were dealt an injury blow themselves this week when defender Erik Edman was diagnosed with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, forcing the Swede into surgery that will keep him out for around six months.
Latics manager Steve Bruce told the club's official website: "It's a real shame because Erik has looked so natural and we will certainly miss him."
Bruce's side have plenty to play for themselves, with just five points separating them from the relegation zone.
England international Emile Heskey confirmed that the club were still in a relegation dogfight despite recent good form.
"Being able to battle is the key and when you're in the position we're in you have to do just that," he said.
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Match Report
Jermain Defoe fired a superb double as Portsmouth warmed up for an FA Cup semi-final next weekend with an easy 2-0 win over Wigan Athletic.
Wigan are now peering nervously over their shoulders as the relegation battle comes to the boil.
The win was Pompey's fifth in six games in all competitions and the FA Cup favourites are looking in top form at the moment.
Harry Redknapp claimed earlier in the week that his Pompey side were still trying to finish in the top five and you cannot discount that.
Redknapp warned his team they must forget about FA Cup glory and concentrate on the league and they seemed to take his word for it.
Portsmouth started brightly and Milan Baros teed up Hermann Hreidarsson, who hit a fierce 15-yard piledriver which Chris Kirkland just managed to claw away for a corner.
Niko Kranjcar then went close with a 22-yard free-kick that whistled just past the right-hand post.
Defoe should have broken the deadlock in the 12th minute but blazed a ten-yard effort over the bar.
Pompey were almost made to pay straight away when Wigan flew up the other end and Antonio Valencia was played in.
His shot beat David James, but not Glen Johnson who dived in to toe-end the ball against the bar from half a yard out to save a certain goal.
Pompey took the lead through Defoe's seventh goal in seven games since joining the south coast club in the 32nd minute.
John Utaka beat three players and his shot was blocked by Kevin Kilbane and fell to Defoe, who slid the ball home left-footed from an acute angle
Defoe has now scored in Portsmouth's last five games at Fratton Park to better Alan Biley's 25-year-old record of four in the 1982/83 season.
Kilbane went close for Wigan just before the break as Portsmouth's fans went into party mode at the thought of a first visit to the new Wembley.
The Republic of Ireland international hit his shot just wide of the right-hand post.
Baros could have settled the game just after the break but dallied over a shot and the danger was cleared.
The Czech international still has not scored in seven appearances since joining on loan from Lyon.
Utaka then went close with a 20-yard shot after a mazy dribble past two defenders.
Wigan were given a totally unwarranted penalty on the 63rd minute when Valencia fell over under Sylvain Distin's challenge and referee Alan Wiley pointed to the spot.
Taylor took the penalty, but James saved and Taylor blasted the rebound over the crossbar.
Defoe added a late second when he latched onto Kranjcar's pass and sprung the offside trap.
The England striker ran through to finish past Kirkland in the fourth minute of injury time.
Portsmouth Team
Wigan Athletic Team
Portsmouth | Wigan Athletic |
Corners
| 5 | 4 |
Fouls
| 10 | 13 |
Goal attempts
| 13 | 17 |
Shots off target
| 5 | 8 |
Offsides
| 3 | 4 |



90mins
A minimum of FOUR minutes to be added on at the end of this match here.