
Wycombe Wanderers did their talking on the pitch as they beat high-flying Portsmouth to climb into the League One top 10.
On a day when on-pitch audio, cameras in the dressing rooms and mid-game manager interviews were top of the pre-match agenda, Albanian midfielder Anis Mehmeti was the star of the show, scoring the first goal and making the second for Garath McCleary.
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.
Line-ups
Wycombe
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Stryjek
- 2Grimmer
- 20MawsonBooked at 54mins
- 6Tafazolli
- 23Obita
- 10WingSubstituted forFreemanat 89′minutes
- 28Scowen
- 7Wheeler
- 11Mehmeti
- 12McCleary
- 18HanlanSubstituted forVokesat 79′minutes
Substitutes
- 9Vokes
- 13Dickinson
- 16Kaikai
- 17Horgan
- 22Freeman
- 25Al-Hamadi
- 26McCarthy
Portsmouth
Formation 3-4-1-2
- 1Griffiths
- 28MorrisonSubstituted forKoromaat 84′minutes
- 20Raggett
- 4RobertsonBooked at 67mins
- 15Dale
- 7Pack
- 25MingiSubstituted forTunnicliffeat 45′minutes
- 6OgilvieBooked at 39minsSubstituted forHumeat 66′minutes
- 19Scarlett
- 11CurtisSubstituted forHackett-Fairchildat 45′minutes
- 9Bishop
Substitutes
- 3Hume
- 8Tunnicliffe
- 10Pigott
- 16Morrell
- 18Hackett-Fairchild
- 21Oluwayemi
- 27Koroma
- Referee:
- Scott Oldham
- Attendance:
- 6,306
Live Text
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Match ends, Wycombe Wanderers 2, Portsmouth 0.
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Second Half ends, Wycombe Wanderers 2, Portsmouth 0.
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Foul by Colby Bishop (Portsmouth).
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Nick Freeman (Wycombe Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by Josh Scowen.
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Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by David Wheeler.
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Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by Anis Mehmeti.
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Substitution, Wycombe Wanderers. Nick Freeman replaces Lewis Wing.
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Goal! Wycombe Wanderers 2, Portsmouth 0. Garath McCleary (Wycombe Wanderers) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Anis Mehmeti.
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Josh Koroma (Portsmouth) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Lewis Wing (Wycombe Wanderers).
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Attempt saved. Lewis Wing (Wycombe Wanderers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Josh Scowen with a through ball.
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Substitution, Portsmouth. Josh Koroma replaces Michael Morrison.
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Corner, Wycombe Wanderers. Conceded by Clark Robertson.
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Attempt blocked. Anis Mehmeti (Wycombe Wanderers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Sam Vokes.
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Corner, Wycombe Wanderers. Conceded by Michael Morrison.
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Attempt saved. Sam Vokes (Wycombe Wanderers) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jack Grimmer with a cross.
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Attempt saved. Dane Scarlett (Portsmouth) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Clark Robertson with a cross.
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Substitution, Wycombe Wanderers. Sam Vokes replaces Brandon Hanlan.
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Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by Ryan Tafazolli.