Source: Team_Talk
Healy stunner sinks Pompey
David Healy's superb drive helped Doncaster secure an enthralling 3-2 victory over 10-man Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Saturday.[LNB] The Northern Ireland international ended Pompey's five-game unbeaten run at home with a 20-yard drive late in the second half, curtailing a resurgence from the resilient home side.[LNB]James Hayter's fourth goal in as many games broke the deadlock for Rovers in the 15th minute before James Coppinger deservedly doubled the visitors' advantage 11 minutes later.[LNB]Joel Ward helped Pompey back into the game after the break before Neil Sullivan fumbled a ball into the box by John Utaka, allowing David Nugent to equalise 16 minutes from time.[LNB]However, the visitors were not to be denied victory on their first trip to Portsmouth for 28 seasons, with Healy grabbing the winner before Carl Dickinson was sent off late on.[LNB]Nugent boosted Pompey heading into the clash, returning after a two-game absence through a knee injury in place of the suspended Liam Lawrence.[LNB]Doncaster, meanwhile, were missing Joseph Mills after the on-loan Southampton left-back failed a late fitness test on an ankle injury.[LNB]Pompey started the match brightly and forced Sullivan into a save in the opening minute after a Doncaster defensive mix-up allowed Utaka to play in a great ball for Nugent to head goalwards from six yards.[LNB]That proved a cue for both sides to rain in shots, with Jamie Ashdown having to produce a smart save to prevent Rovers from breaking the deadlock.[LNB]John Oster played in a great ball with the outside of his boot to Hayter, who produced a smart turn and strike that the Portsmouth keeper did well to tip around the post in the 10th minute.[LNB]Hayter was not to be denied for long, though.[LNB]Five minutes later some smart play from Healy saw the ball fall to the striker, who managed to divert it just past Ashdown into the roof of the net.[LNB]Portsmouth failed to recover and Fratton Park fell silent again in the 26th minute when Coppinger deservedly doubled the visitors' advantage,[LNB]Despite calls for Mustapha Dumbuya to be pulled back for a tackle, Rovers piled forward and Coppinger went on to dink the ball over Ashdown.[LNB]Ricardo Rocha and Ward came on for Ibrahima Sonko and Kanu in the second half as the Blues tried to gain a foothold in the game.[LNB]The changes seemed to work as Portsmouth looked refreshed, especially in attack, and Sullivan had to parry Dave Kitson's 51st-minute shot as the home side looked to reduce the deficit.[LNB]The home side's pressure eventually paid dividends in the 66th minute when Utaka drilled a great ball across the box and substitute Ward tapped home at the back post.[LNB]Fellow substitute Rocha put a free header just wide moments later before Sullivan handed Pompey an equaliser, fumbling Utaka's cross to allow Nugent to poke home.[LNB]Portsmouth looked resurgent and pressed for the winner, only for Healy to settle the match in the 79th minute with a great strike that sent home the majority of the 14,828 crowd unhappy.[LNB]Pompey's disappointing afternoon was compounded when Dickinson sent off in the 88th minute for a bad foul on Hayter.
