Wycombe Wanderers 2-0 Portsmouth: Anis Mehmeti stars as Chairboys win

Wycombe Wanderers did their talking on the pitch as they beat high-flying Portsmouth to climb into the League One top 10.

That set up a second win in three games for Gareth Ainsworth’s Chairboys to lift them up to 10th, within a point of Danny Cowley’s eighth-placed Pompey, who suffered only their third defeat of the season.

Wycombe were ahead on 14 minutes when David Wheeler reacted well to win his own knockdown from a long hopeful high punt forward, Brandon Hanlan moved it sideways and Mehmeti was left unmarked on the edge of the 18-yard box to bend home a beautiful first-time right-foot shot into the top right corner.

Mehmeti then missed an even better chance and it could have been 2-0 on 40 minutes when Alfie Mawson found himself in space inside the Pompey penalty area, but his superbly struck 15-yard half-volley came back off the inside of the right post.

Pompey, who have now won just one of their past league games, had chances to level after the break.

Dane Scarlett’s wickedly swerving effort was blocked by Max Stryjek’s chest, sub Reeco Hackett’s right-foot shot was turned away brilliantly by the Polish keeper at his near post – and he then saved Scarlett’s near-post header.

But, despite the loud encouragement of Pompey’s always magnificent away support, it was the hosts who finished the strongest.

Wales international Sam Vokes’ clever flick from Jack Grimmer’s superb low right-wing cross was kept out by the sharp reflexes on the line of Pompey keeper Josh Griffiths, who then saved from Lewis Wing.

But it was all settled when Mehmeti’s trickery took him into the Pompey box on the right and, having shown he could access all the right areas of the pitch, he kept his cool to square for McCleary to net his fourth goal of the season – and second in three games.