MATCH REPORT: Portsmouth 4 Mansfield Town 0

Mansfield Town at Portsmouth - Pic by Chris Holloway

Carl Baker’s late brace, plus goals from Gary Robert and Noel Hunt were the difference as the Stags finished with nine men at Fratton Park after Kyle Howkins and Alex Iacovitti were both sent off in the second half.

Howkins was shown a second yellow for bringing down Kyle Bennett before on-loan Nottingham Forrest defender Iacovitti was given his first professional red for a late challenge on Michael Doyle after being on the field just 15 minutes.

Two changes were the ticket for Adam Murray. Jamie McGuire and Matt Green replaced Jack Thomas and Darius Henderson as Lee Collins missed out with injury.

The Stags went to the south coast vying for their first win against Pompey in almost 30 years, but they got off to the worst possible start during a frantic first half.

In the 11th minute, the returning Green slid in and clattered into Bennett before Pompey’s leading goal-scorer Roberts duly dispatched the resulting penalty down the middle for his seventh of the season.

Down the other end Green almost made up for his defensive mishap as he fired into the side netting.

The Stags’ best chance of an equaliser came just before the half an hour mark as James Baxendale’s header rattled the post.

Baker then hammered his left-footed thunderbolt against the post before half time for Paul Cook’s men.

Fifteen minutes into the second half, Howkins was sent off before goalkeeper David Forde tipped Hemmings’ ferocious strike over the bar.

Substitute Hunt tapped in his first of the season from close range in minute 84 before Baker’s late deadly double.

Baker fired his first past Scott Shearer before a stunning 25-yard strike ended a miserable day out for the Stags.

Portsmouth: Forde, Evans, Clarke, Burgess, Stevens, Rose, Doyle, Bennett (Naismith, 79), Roberts (Hunt, 77), Baker, Chaplin (Smith, 86). Subs not used: O’Brien, Whatmough, Lalkovic, Close.

Mansfield: Shearer, Bennet, Pearce, Howkins, Benning (D. Rose, 69), McGuire, Gobern, Baxendale (Iacovitti, 59), Clements, Green (Henderson, 55), Hemmings. Subs not used: Jensen, Hoban, Hamilton, M.Rose.

Attendance: 16,393 (326).

Referee: Roger East.