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Portsmouth vs Oxford United. Sky Bet League One.

Fratton ParkAttendance17,892.

Portsmouth 3

  • K Naismith (5th minute)
  • B Pitman (69th minute, 79th minute)

Oxford United 0

  • A Mowatt (sent off 62nd minute)

Portsmouth 3-0 Oxford United: Brett Pitman scores twice after Alex Mowatt red

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Watch highlights of the Sky Bet League One game between Portsmouth and Oxford United

Alex Mowatt missed a penalty and was sent off as Karl Robinson's first match in charge of Oxford United ended in a 3-0 defeat to Portsmouth on Sunday.

Kal Naismith put Pompey ahead in the fifth minute when he finished from a corner.

Mowatt then endured a nightmare minute in the second half when he hit the post with a penalty and was sent off for striking Nathan Thompson as he taunted him following the miss.

Player ratings

Portsmouth: McGee (7), Walkes (6), Whatmough (6), Clarke (7), Donohue (6), Thompson (6), Lowe (7), Close (6), Ronan (6), Naismith (7), Pitman (8)

Subs: May (5), Evans (5)

Oxford: Eastwood (5), Smith-Brown (6), Mousinho (6), Dickie (5), Kane (6), Brannagan (6), Ledson (6), Mowatt (3), Henry (6), Napa (6), Thomas (5)

Subs: Rothwell (5), Ricardinho (5), Mehmeti (5)

Man of the match: Brett Pitman

Brett Pitman scored twice afterwards to make sure of victory for Portsmouth, who move two points outside the play-off places in Sky Bet League One.

Oxford remain five points above the relegation zone, having seen their hopes of victory under Robinson, who was appointed as manager on Thursday, fade after Mowatt's dismissal.

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Watch Alex Mowatt miss a penalty and then get sent off inside a minute

Portsmouth had assistant manager Joe Gallen taking charge in the absence of Kenny Jackett, who was missing due to "a family health issue", and they made the perfect start as they took the lead in the fifth minute, with Matt Clarke heading a corner back across goal for Naismith to finish from close range.

Oxford struggled for an immediate response, but improved as the half wore on.

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Karl Henry struck the bar with a shot from the edge of the box in the 21st minute before Malachi Napa, making his first start for the club, saw a curling effort brilliantly tipped wide by Luke McGee.

Pitman then blocked on the line from a corner after Rob Dickie headed at McGee from close range.

Oxford continued to look the more threatening side in the second half but the game got away from them after Mowatt's penalty miss and red card.

Mowatt struck the post with the penalty after Clarke dragged down Dickie and he then slapped Thompson around the face after he taunted him.

Pompey made the most of the dismissal as Jamal Lowe twice crossed for Pitman to tap in from close range.

Team news

Both sides made one change with Portsmouth bringing in Thompson for Haunstrup and 18-year-old winger Napa making his first start for Oxford in place of the injured Obika.

The managers

Portsmouth assistant Joe Gallen: "I thought we started really well and then we took an early lead. Oxford came back at us strongly which we expected as they have some very good players. There is no doubt that this was a huge result for us at a vital time in the season and I'm delighted."

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Oxford United manager Karl Robinson was left fuming with Portsmouth's Nathan Thompson

Karl Robinson: "The referee has made one of the biggest mistakes I have seen in a long time. Thompson was booked in the first half. What he did was an absolute disgrace. My player should not react the way he did. He will be reprimanded and spoken to internally, but what he did and then not to get booked and go down the way he did…I don't think professional footballers should do that. If one of my players did that I would be more disappointed with that reaction than what Alex did."

Man of the match - Brett Pitman

Pitman proved to be the match-winner for Portsmouth as he took his tally to 19 for the season. He looked a threat with his strong running and also made a crucial block to prevent Oxford scoring an equaliser in the first half.

What's next?

Portsmouth travel to Walsall next Saturday and then host Wigan on Monday, April 2, live on Sky Sports. Oxford are also on Sky Sports on Friday when they entertain Scunthorpe, before a trip to Shrewsbury on Monday.

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