Report by Ben Davis

Pompey's Swedish ace Mathias Svensson showed that he is very much an important Pompey player as he scored two goals to condemn Port Vale to defeat in the heat today.
Fenwick made four changes to the team which drew with Peterborough with Pethick coming in for McLoughlin, who was on international duty with Ireland, the Jamaican duo of Hall and Simpson returned along with Svensson. The Pompey fans had the chance to see the new look Fratton Park with the new roof on the North Stand and the Fratton End as a construction yard.
Pompey started brightly with Aloisi playing a good ball to Svensson, but he look too long on the ball and his pass caught Hall offside. Port Vale, as expected, put plenty of men behind the ball leaving the tall Mills up front, however they had the first effort at goal when Glover moved forward from the back and fired a shot wide of Flahavan's goal.
In the 6th minute Hillier's delightful pass set Igoe away down the right and his cross was put out for the first corner of the game. Hall and Simpson took a short one and found Pethick who in turn found Hillier. The midfielder's clever chip put Thomson in a great position but he blasted the shot high and wide.
The play was mainly congested in midfield and whenever a telling pass was made the defence was equal to it, yet it was Pompey who were creating the more chances. Some neat play down the left saw Simpson find Svensson and his low cross was put out for a corner by Janson as Aloisi moved in to pounce.
In the 24th minute Pompey's dominance paid off as they took the lead. Glover badly misjudged a header which let Aloisi in to hit a fine first time shot in off the post. Port Vale attempted to reply quickly but Pompey's defence were doing well and in the end Mills frustration got the better of him as he got booked for arguing with the linesman.
Pompey were playing some excellent football and they were rewarded in the 37th minute with a second goal. Pethick made a brilliant challenge inside his own half to win back possession. He found Igoe and took a wonderful return ball down the right to put in a low cross which Svensson slid home to the delight of the crowd.
Suddenly it could have been three as Svensson's header put Aloisi through but the Aussie's second touch let him down giving Musselwhite to opportunity to claim the ball at the striker's feet. Then Port Vale stunned the home crowd with a goal out of nothing. Talbot managed to hold on to the ball on the edge of the area and he sent a left-foot shot past Flahavan's full-stretch dive for a fine goal.
Almost immediately after half-time Pompey restored their two goal advantage. Talbot could only clear as far as Hillier whose cross bounced clear to the edge of the area where Simpson knocked it forward for Svensson to latch onto and the Swede promptly knocked it past Musselwhite for his second goal of the match.
Pompey stepped off the gas for a while although Port Vale were unable to fashion any sign of a chance. Svensson, who was having a fine disciplined game, then found Aloisi in the area and the Aussie appeared to be brought down by substitute Stokes but referee Bob Harris turned down the appeals.
Chants of 'We love Flav' then erupted as Flahavan made a brilliant instinctive save from Naylor 6-yards out but the Port Vale substitute was offside. With 11 minutes remaining Svensson came off to a standing for a fine performance ovation as he was replaced by Thorp.
Port Vale then had their only real chance of the half when Naylor won a corner which Flahavan couldn't claim but the referee had awarded the keeper a free-kick as he was fouled by Koordes.
The outstanding Hillier then slipped Aloisi through one-on-one, but Musselwhite made a good save when a pass to Thorp in acres of space may have been the better option.