Jordan Bowery's debut goal sinks Portsmouth
Jordan Bowery came off the bench to score a debut winner as Oxford toppled automatic promotion rivals Portsmouth 1-0 at Fratton Park.
Former Aston Villa striker Bowery only joined the Us on Friday after leaving Rotherham but made an instant impact to hep manager Michael Appleton triumph over his old club.
Bowery buried a brilliant first-time shot beyond Pompey goalkeeper Ryan Fulton 14 minutes from time after the home defence had failed to deal with Jake Wright's long punt upfield.
Liverpool loanee Fulton, 19, had an eventful debut, saving Liam Sercombe's 51st-minute penalty after the teenager had brought down Danny Hylton.
Fulton reacted superbly to keep out Sercombe's rebound effort after pushing out the midfielder's spot-kick.
Portsmouth almost took the lead in the 19th minute when Wright cleared Marc McNulty's side-footer off the goal-line.
Home substitute Adam McGurk should have equalised in the dying seconds when he headed straight at Oxford goalkeeper Sam Slocombe.
It was Pompey's first defeat since Boxing Day.
Source: PA
