Superb-sub Nugent sends Pompey past 10-man Ipswich

Ipswich 0 Portsmouth 1

Forgotten £6million striker David Nugent came off the bench to send Portsmouth into the fourth round of the FA Cup as his goal beat 10-man Ipswich at Portman Road.

The 22-year-old had failed to make an impact on Harry Redknapp’s team following his summer arrival from Preston.

However, Nugent, sent on at the break, produced a clinical finish from a long ball into the Ipswich area after 51 minutes to grab a first goal since late September.

It also handed his manager a timely reminder of his abilities just when Pompey are set to lose key men to the African Nations Cup.

Ipswich who lifted the famous old trophy 30 years ago were always up against it after youngster Liam Miller had been somewhat harshly dismissed by referee Mark Halsey following a late sliding challenge on Pedro Mendes in the 24th minute.

However, the Suffolk side rallied late on and almost snatched an equaliser through substitute Alan Lee’s close-range header and then Danny Haynes’ low shot.

Pompey, though, continued their progress under Redknapp, and look a good bet for a long-overdue decent cup run this year.

Ipswich – currently in the play-off places and aiming to be playing against top-flight opposition regularly next season – started brightly.

After such an impressive opening to the campaign, Pompey have stuttered in recent weeks, dropping back to eighth place in the Barclays Premier League.

However, with seven away wins from their last eight, the south-coast side remained dangerous on the road.

After six minutes, the visitors forced a corner, which floated over to the far post and former Ipswich defender Hermann Hreidarsson was just wide with a downward header.

Full-back Glen Johnson then got in down the right, and his low angled shot was saved by Town keeper Neil Alexander.

Ipswich, the form home side in the Coca-Cola Championship, were seeing plenty of the ball in midfield without making any real progress around the Pompey penalty area.

The home crowd had a moment to cheer when striker Pablo Counago latched onto a long ball into the Pompey box, but he was hustled out of possession by the experienced Sylvain Distin.

After 24 minutes, Ipswich were controversially reduced to 10 men.

Academy graduate Trotter – whose smiling face was pictured across front of the matchday programme – slid in on Mendes, leading with his studs right in front of the assistant on the far side.

The Portsmouth midfielder jumped out of the way, but was still caught by the somewhat rash challenge.

After a long lecture, and seemingly consolation with his colleagues via the headset, referee Halsey deemed the one-footed tackle dangerous enough for a straight red card – much to the disbelief of the Portman Road faithful.

Understandably, Halsey was then jeered at every decision, only getting the home fans on his side when awarding a free-kick some 30 yards out on the right.

Owen Garvan sent over a dangerous deep ball into the Pompey box, but it was headed clear.

Portsmouth seemed content to wait patiently for an opening but too often chose the wrong pass when in promising positions as Pape Bouba Diop blasted his shot from 20 yards high into the stands.

Ipswich rallied at the end of the first half, and Counago flicked on a near-post corner, which Johnson put cleared off the line under pressure from Billy Clarke.

Portsmouth made a change at the break, with Mendes replaced by Nugent.

It was a bright start following the restart by the home side.

After 47 minutes, a break down the right saw Haynes pick up the ball and drive on to the edge of the box.

His low shot across goal was well saved by David James, quickly down to his right.

However, Pompey soon took the lead.

After 51 minutes, a long ball upfield from Sol Campbell caught out the Ipswich centre-backs, with Nugent getting ahead of Alex Bruce.

The summer signing from Preston made no mistake, taking the pass on into the penalty area and slotting past Alexander from eight yards.

It was almost 2-0 after 63 minutes when Nugent sent a half-volley on the turn against the crossbar following a deflected cross by John Utaka down the right.

Pompey should have gone further ahead when Hreidarsson’s low cross went straight along the six-yard box and to Utaka the far post, but somehow the Nigerian completely missed his shot.

Ipswich rallied during the closing stages, with substitute Alan Lee forcing a diving sage from James.

However, the Suffolk side could not find a way back into the tie despite three minutes of stoppage-time – as James again denied Town with a fine save at full stretch from Haynes.