Report by Ben Davis

John Aloisi and Mathias Svensson grabbed a goal each to earn Pompey a victory although their task was made slightly easier when Oxford's big centre back Purse was sent off for a second bookable offence early in the second half.
Paul Hall and Fitzroy Simpson were on international duty with Jamaica so Andy Turner and Martin Allen came in. Hillier was suffering from a rib injury so it gave Igoe the chance to prove a point to Fenwick who dropped the talented midfielder from the midweek game with Peterborough. At the back Thomson was dropped with Russell slotting into his place.
Pompey got off to a perfect start when they took the lead after only three minutes. McLoughlin played Turner away down the left and the winger's great cross was headed in by Aloisi as he out jumped Oxford's keeper Whitehead.
The visitor's though were given plenty of time and space on the ball and won the first corner of the game in the ninth minute. Beauchamp's cross was flicked on by Jemson into the danger area where Wilsterman's shot was fortunately blocked by Whitbread.
Then a fine claim by Flahavan was followed by a massive kick up field where Svensson pressured Robinson into conceding a corner. McLoughlin's cross was met by Perrett at the far post but the defender's header went safely over.
In the 20th minute Oxford went close to equalising when Angel's cross from the by-line was headed just over by Murphy from six yards out. Pompey were defending far to deeply and were content to let Oxford have the ball and in the 36th minute some static defending allowed the visitors back into the game.
Robinson's pass wasn't intercepted leaving Ford in space to round Flahavan and tap into an empty goal. Pompey had shot themselves in the foot again and had to buckle up their ideas for the second half if they were to win the game.
Pompey's hopes of winning the game were received a massive boost when a late tackle on Allen by Purse saw the defender get his second caution which turned to red. He had made a late tackle in the first half on Svensson so referee Scott Mathieson had no choice but to send him off. The numerical advantage paid off straight away with Pethick finding himself in oceans of space down the right but the cross was just to high for Aloisi.
Igoe then forced Whitehead into a fine save after Allen and Aloisi had combined to set the midfielder up for a shot from the edge of the area. However, the keeper could only parry it across the face of his goal although the angle was just to tight for Svensson who hit the side-netting.
Oxford now had everyone in defence as they looked to hang on for a point. Turner though had a great chance to change all that when McLoughlin found him free in the area but the shot flew inches wide when he should have at least hit the target. Eventually the pressure paid off in the 66th minute as Pompey regained the lead.
Whitbread's ball down the right found Pethick whose cross to the near post was flicked in by Svensson. The visitors soon made a change with striker Martin Aldridge come on to help his side get an equaliser. He didn't have that many opportunities though as Pompey went in search of a match winning third goal.
Igoe, who was having a fine game, worked himself space for a cross down the right which substitute Durnin met only for Whitehead to pull of a super save to deny the forward a goal against his old club. Igoe was in the action again when he surged through Oxford's defence and his shot was again brilliantly saved by Whitehead.
Oxford put on some late pressure which Pompey coped with and a flowing move on the break saw Pethick's cross from the right headed just wide by McLoughlin who had made a late run into the area.
The three points though were Pompey's and the win keeps them well up there at the top of the table and it'll raise confidence for the match against Norwich on Tuesday at Fratton Park.