Portsmouth 0 Doncaster 1: Hume strikes again as Rovers threaten top six

DONCASTER Rovers moved to within one point of the play-off places and could rise to third if they win their game in hand on all the teams above them.

Delighted Rovers manager Saunders said after the victory at managerless Portsmouth: “It’s another great win for us. We showed a lot of determination and the back four defended great.

“The goalkeeper had two shots straight at him and one over the bar.

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“We should have killed them off, we had loads of chances in that second half but some of the football we played at times was excellent.”

On-loan striker Iain Hume consigned Pompey to a sixth straight defeat and earned Rovers only their second win at Fratton Park – the first coming two years ago – with his fourth goal for the club.

Billy Paynter, who worked hard throughout leading the line, had a couple of opportunities before Rovers scored what proved the winner.

Canada international Hume took advantage of hesitation between goalkeeper Mikkel Andersen and captain Brian Howard to slide the ball home in the 25th minute following a cross from Martin Woods.

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Former Sheffield United and Rotherham midfield man Lee Williamson should have equalised for the home side after the hour mark but miscued and Pompey were frustrated when Izale McLeod lobbed over and Gabor Gyepes’s header cleared the crossbar.

Portsmouth caretaker manager Guy Whittingham, who saw five of his players booked, said: “I was pleased overall with the effort of everybody. I think people can see that the effort was in there.

“I’m very pleased with Nathaniel (Mendez-Laing), he started to get people on their feet when he got the ball and I think it shows he has the ability to run at people and create things for us.

“I think if we have the same attitude and get the same amount of balls and chances that we’ve had in our next game then we’ll score.”

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Portsmouth: Andersen, Dumbuya, Michalik, Dickinson (Compton 83), Gyepes, Mendez-Laing, Howard, Williamson (Harris 71), Russell, McLeod, Benson. Unused substitutes: Eastwood, Harley, Walker, Ertl, Webster.

Doncaster Rovers: G Woods, Husband,R Jones, Griffin, Spurr, Cotterill (Syers 82), Harper, Keegan, Ma Woods, Paynter (Brown 75), Hume (Martis 87). Unused substitutes: Maxted, Blake, Mi Woods,Ball.

Referee: I Williamson (Berkshire).

Man of the match: Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.