Comfort for Redknapp
Mansfield Town 1-2 Portsmouth
THERE were moments in the second half when Harry Redknapp might have wished he was sat in front of the television last night, but Portsmouth made it through to the third round of the Carling Cup, albeit at the cost of their perfect defensive record.
Mansfield Town, sixteenth in Coca-Cola League Two, did what no Barclays Premiership side have achieved this season: scored a goal against the Premiership leaders. That said, this was a vastly-altered Portsmouth team. Of his regular starters, Redknapp, the manager, rested all but Matthew Taylor and Benjani Mwaruwari.
Andrew Cole, Niko Kranjcar, Manuel Fernandes and Rodolph Douala made their debuts and Fernandes made a swift impression. The midfield player, on loan from Benfica, scored a long-range goal after five minutes and Taylor doubled the lead just after the half-hour. Danny Reet pulled one back in the 81st minute to set up an exciting climax.
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Nottingham Evening Post:
STAGS MAKE POMPEY EARN THEIR WIN
Mansfield Town 1 v 2 Portsmouth
Premiership leaders Portsmouth were made to withstand a spirited second-half display from League Two outfit Mansfield before sealing their place in the third round of the Carling Cup.
Stags substitute Danny Reet breached Pompey's defence for the first time this season with 10 minutes remaining at Field Mill, succeeding where the likes of Mark Viduka, Emile Heskey and Darren Bent have all failed this term.
The former Sheffield Wednesday striker capitalised on a misplaced back pass before beating goalkeeper Dean Kiely to the ball and poking home from just inside the area.
Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp fielded an entirely different starting 11 to the side that beat Charlton 1-0 on Saturday, with six players making their first appearances for the club this season.
It was one of those men, Manuel Fernandes, who opened the scoring after just five minutes.
The ball broke to the on-loan Benfica midfielder on the left-hand side of the area and he curled a left-footed shot away from goalkeeper Jason White and into the far corner.
Mansfield created their first real opportunity in the 10th minute, responding well to the early setback.
Stephen Dawson crossed from the left and Chris Beardsley beat Noe Pamarot to the ball, but glanced his header wide from eight yards out.
Just before the half-hour mark Andy Cole almost marked his Pompey debut with a goal but his diving header from Richard Hughes' cross went wide of the post.
The hosts' best chance came after 31 minutes as the ball landed in the path of Mathew Hamshaw on the edge of the area, but as he tried to direct it goalwards the bounce deceived him and his effort sailed over.
Their job was made even harder when Pompey doubled their advantage just after the half-hour mark, Matt Taylor beating White with a fierce low drive into the same corner Fernandes had found earlier.
Mansfield started the second half brightly and almost reduced the deficit when, following a series of ricochets inside Pompey's six-yard box, Kiely smothered the ball on his goal line.
The Stags continued to apply pressure and Beardsley should have scored but fired wide from close range when it appeared easier to find the back of the net.
Giles Coke extended Kiely with a swerving shot from 25 yards midway through the second half, the former Charlton goalkeeper safely grasping the ball at the second attempt.
Moments later Hamshaw broke clear down the right and into the area but, with Beardsley in the centre, got caught between a shot and a cross and fired the ball wide.
Mansfield finally made their pressure tell when Reet notched his third goal of the season to set up a tense finale but the Premiership side stood firm to hold on for the win.