Quashie quality keeps Pompey at peak

Portsmouth 3 Bradford City

It did not take long for Portsmouth to recover their poise following their first defeat of the season last weekend. They registered an emphatic victory over Bradford City yesterday with two goals by Nigel Quashie and one from Vincent Pericard.

Harry Redknapp's side may have lost 1-0 at Norwich a week ago but they have now won all six of their home games this season, and thus maintained their two-point advantage at the top of the First Division.

It was the Bantams, however, refusing to bow to their superiors, who enjoyed the early strikes on goal, Andy Gray and Paul Evans both shooting from distance without testing the home goalkeeper, Shaka Hislop.

It was against the run of play, therefore, when Kevin Harper ran purposefully down the wing and crossed to Svetoslav Todorov, whose adroit lay-off allowed Quashie to find the back of the net from the edge of the penalty area after 17 minutes, his shot going in off the post.

Portsmouth stamped their authority on the game by doubling their lead just four minutes later. Paul Merson found Pericard with a long ball and the striker, who is on loan from Juventus and returned to the side in place of Gary O'Neil, chested it down and fired home a powerful shot.

It was turning into a nightmare debut for Steve Banks in the Bradford goal. Manager Nicky Law had been forced to turn to the on-loan Bolton keeper after Aidan Davison was injured in the midweek draw against Coventry.

On the bench was a familiar figure to the Fratton Park crowd in the shape of veteran former Pompey goalkeeper Dave Beasant, who has signed for Bradford on non-contract terms.

The Bantams began to force their way back into the game as the half drew to a close, Michael Proctor's long-range effort going narrowly wide just before the interval.

But there was still time, too, for Quashie almost to extend Portsmouth's lead, taking aim from 30 yards out and forcing Banks to make an excellent save. Relishing the encounter, Quashie again went close to scoring early in the second half, curling a 20-yard effort just over the crossbar.

He duly did record his second goal of the afternoon 13 minutes into the second half, once again courtesy of great work by Merson. The former England midfielder found Quashie with a neat ball and the striker prodded it past Banks to make the game safe for the home side.

City tried to give their travelling fans a consolation but despite all their efforts, they could not seriously test Hislop in the home goal and Pompey were runaway winners.

Portsmouth 3 Bradford City 0
Quashie 17, 58, Pericard 21

Half-time: 2-0 Attendance: 18,459