Carl Baker strike keeps Portsmouth title hopes alive with win at Mansfield

Posted Sunday, April 30, 2017 by PA

Carl Baker kept Portsmouth's League Two title hopes alive with the only goal of a tense game at play-off chasers Mansfield.

The midfielder turned Krystian Pearce to grab the winner after 57 minutes, the ball taking a deflection off Conor Chaplain en route.

The home side dominated the first half without troubling Pompey goalkeeper David Forde.

Mansfield were furious with referee Lee Swabey three minutes after the break minutes when last man Matt Clarke rugby tackled Danny Rose when he looked clean through and was only booked.

The Stags also had a goal disallowed when Rhys Bennett was judged offside after 51 minutes, before Baker struck six minutes later.

Mansfield piled on the pressure and wasted two golden chances as Alex MacDonald headed across goal on 63 minutes before Matt Green lobbed over the bar when one-on-one with Forde with 10 minutes remaining.

Kal Naismith wasted a chance to kill the game on 89 minutes when he lifted over from six yards, but it didn't matter in the end.

The defeat leaves the Stags relying on other results to secure a play-off place on the final weekend, which Portsmouth start two points adrift of leaders Plymouth.