Andre Dozzell's first half strike earns the Blues a first home win of the campaign whilst ending the visitors' unbeaten start.
Andre Dozzell’s first goal of the season was enough to seal the 3 points for Portsmouth.
The second half did not have much to bring to light, with neither side having any clear-cut chances to score, except Josh Murphy late on who’s late-on lobbed effort at goal went over the bar.
The Blues were unchanged from the side that drew one-all at The Hawthorns last weekend, except new signing Josh Knight, who came into the squad on the bench, in place of Ibane Bowat.
Josh Murphy went on to play an entire 90 minutes this afternoon, despite reports that a few Championship sides have identified the 30-year-old as a transfer target. Just 2 days until the summer transfer window slams shut on Monday the 31st of August at 7pm.
Preston tested Pompey early on, when former Southampton and Charlton man Thierry Small fired a left-footed cross into the area, where it was met by Daniel Jebbison, but the AFC Bournemouth loanee’s flick at goal caused no issues for Nicholas Schmid.
Down the other end, Josh Swift had a pop at goal from a free kick just outside the penalty area; however, the number eight’s set-piece was just too high for Daniel Iversen’s net.
Colby Bishop then had the best chance up until the opening goal, when the Blues captain got onto the end of Josh Murphy’s low hit cross across goal, but the number nine was denied by the feet of Iversen.
Small then had a curled effort at goal moments later, but the wing-back’s effort went wide of the Blues' net, keeping the score at nil apiece.
The only goal of the afternoon was then scored just four minutes before the break, when Swift teed up his midfield partner Dozzell, who was stood just inches outside the 18-yard box, before a left-footed strike at goal flew past Iversen, taking a slight deflection off a Lilywhite shirt; however, the goal stood as Dozzell’s to make it 1-0.
HALF-TIME: Portsmouth 1-0 Preston North End
Early after the interval, Pompey had bright spells where they tested the North End net through Josh Murphy, whose early shot at goal went just wide, and Zak Swanson’s, whose effort was blocked by a white shirt.
John Mousinho made his first substitute of the afternoon, with Florian Bianchini coming off for holding midfielder Luke Le Roux, which pushed Swift into the number ten position behind Bishop and Adrian Segečić out wide on the right flank.
Paul Heckingbottom and Stuart McCall made a double change, with Stefán Teitur Þórðarson and striker Daniel Jebbsion being replaced by Mads Frøkjær-Jensen and Aston Villa loanee Lewis Dobbin.
With just over 10 minutes to go, Josh Knight came on for his Pompey debut, with the former Hannover 96 defender coming on for Zack Swanson, which pushed centre-half Regan Poole out to right-back.
The final 2 changes of the afternoon for the Blues came just ahead of the additional six added minutes of injury time, with Segečić and Bishop coming off Terry Devlin and Aussie forward Thomas Waddingham.
And with one of the final kicks of the game, Terry Devlin sprinted down the right wing, before teeing up Josh Murphy, who was left one-on-one with Iversen, but the number 23 lobbed effort at goal went just over the roof of the net, with Pompey unbaked to double their lead to two goals-to-nil late on.
FULL-TIME: Portsmouth 1-0 Preston North End
Next up: After a two-week international break, it will arguably be one of the biggest games in recent memory for Portsmouth, when John Mousinho’s side make the short trip down the M27 to face Will Still’s Southampton in the first South Coast derby at St Mary’s since 2012.
13 years ago, a certain David Norris pelted home a screamer in a last-gasp equaliser for the Blues; however, the two sides have only met once since then, that being in the Carabao Cup 3rd round, where Premier League Southampton beat at the time Kenny Jackett’s struggling League One Pompey 4-0 at Fratton Park.
Can Pompey achieve the bragging rights at Itchen Docks in two weeks? In what will be a first South Coast derby for not only John Mousinho and his coaching staff, but the entire Pompey squad.
Portsmouth: 1. Schmid (GK), 22. Swanson (4. Knight), 5. Poole, 6. Shaughnessy, 3. Ogilvie, 8. Swift, 21. Dozzell, 8. Swift, 11. Bianchini (16. Le Roux), 10. Segečić (24. Devlin), 23. Murphy, 9. Bishop (C) (20. Waddingham) (Formation: 4-2-3-1)
Unused subs: 30. Killip (GK), 2. Williams, 14. Matthews, 18. Kosznovszky, 47. Min-hyeok
Goal: Dozzell 41'
Bookings: Dozzell 48'
Head Coach: John Mousinho
Preston North End: 1. Iversen (GK), 2. Valentín, 14. Storey (42. Offiah), 19. Gibson, 16. Hughes, 26. Small, 8. McCann, 4. Whiteman (C), 22. Þórðarson (17. Dobbin), 24. Smith, 9. Jebbison (10. Frøkjær-Jensen) (Formation: 5-3-2)
Unused subs: 12. Walton (GK), 3. Vukčević, 6. Lindsay, 20. Carroll, 30. Gryba
Bookings: Storey 13’, Hughes 34’
Manager: Paul Heckingbottom
Venue: Fratton Park
Referee: Tony Harrington
Attendance: 20,226 (Including 748 Preston North End fans)
You can also download and replay today's Pompey Live: Extra-Time podcast, on which Jake Smith, Kirsty Roxanne and James Wilson provided analysis on the Blues' 1-0 Championship victory over Preston North End.
On Monday (September 1st) night between 6-8pm, Jake will return with a special 2 hour length episode of The Football Hour to discuss this afternoon's performance and also the latest transfer deadline day deals as they happen. The window slams shut at 7pm on Monday!
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