Report by Ben Davis

Alan McLoughlin's second half goal sent Pompey on their way to three precious points against a Crewe side which looks destined for the drop. The Irish international was at the heart of every thing Pompey did in attack and it was Steve Claridge who made the win certain with a 90th minute goal. However, most to the talk was about what was going off the field, rather than on it. Vince Wolanin and Brian Howe were in town and were seemingly set for talks with Gregory in a move to buy the debt ridden club.
John Aloisi had overcome is knee injury to start in place of Luke Nightingale who had to settle for a place on the bench alongside David Hillier who had also recovered from injury.
Pompey started sluggishly and should have been behind in the sixth minute. Anthrobus easily got past Thorgersen down the left before finding Street six yards out, but his shot flew high over the bar and into the massed ranks of screaming kids in the Milton End. Yet Pompey could have easily taken the lead minutes later. Igoe found Thorgersen out on the right and the Dane's fine low cross was met by Aloisi, but the Aussie's stabbed effort clipped the post and went wide.
Steve Claridge thought he had to score when he met a Peron cross with a firm header in the 14th minute. Crewe's 'keeper Jason Kearton though defied logic by getting down well to turn the effort behind. A couple of minutes later another corner fell out to Robinson whose shot from the edge of the area was deflected wide. The referee though decided to strangely give a goal-kick to the annoyance of the crowd.
Matthew Robinson was booked before a massive scramble erupted in the Crewe penalty area. Kearton seemed to have the ball but the referee in the end decided a drop ball was the best option. Thorgersen put the ball into the area where Robinson met only to see his header loop over the bar.
After a couple of half chances Claridge managed to get the ball into the net only for it to be disallowed for offside. McLoughlin should have done better when he received the ball totally unmarked in the Crewe area. He though fired a volley into the ground and Kearton gathered without trouble. Kearton came to Crewe's rescue again when he got down very well to hold on to an Aloisi header from a Peron cross.
Pompey kicked off the half and they swiftly moved forward. Claridge managed to find Igoe whose shot flew wide. Next to have a go at goal for Pompey was Thorgersen who worked some space well before blazing a left foot shot over.
You knew it was a bad match when the crowd cheered once the ball had rolled over the South Stand and to the other side. Aloisi though went close to livening up a rather subdued crowd when he picked up a Robinson throw-in before twisting past his marker and firing a right foot shot just over the bar.
Both sides were now bouncing off each other. Pompey were trying to create something via Igoe whilst Crewe just hoped to catch Pompey out. Alan Ball saw that Pompey could do with an extra attack so on came Phillips for Waterman in the 70th minute.
The referee did himself no favours when he awarded a soft free kick after Aloisi had robbed the ball off Kearton in the Crewe area. It looked certain that the Aloisi would turn and score but amazingly the whistle went for a foul by the striker.
Then in the 72nd minute Pompey eventually made the breakthrough. Thorersen stormed up the right wing before delivering a cross which McLoughlin headed down past Kearton for a well taken goal. Crewe tried to rally back but their final ball was awful and Pompey sealed the win in the last minute.
Thomson managed to get the ball under control before bursting forward and setting Claridge free and he kept his nerve to curl a shot beyond Kearton into the net.
The three points were Pompey's although it must be said that this performance wasn't one of their best. Indeed this win is only the beginning of what should be two wins on the trot after Pompey play Grimsby next Sunday.