Portsmouth vs Bournemouth match report: Marc Pugh pops up to deny proud Pompey a replay

Portsmouth 1 Bournemouth 2

Marc Pugh celebrates scoring Bournemouth's winner (Getty Images)

This was Portsmouth’s decade in microcosm: Hope, joy, disappointment, despair, pride. Having rolled back the years to take a first-half lead against their top-flight opponents the League Two club were pegged back, then beaten, but left to a rousing ovation.

Had Gary Roberts’ well-taken 43rd minute goal been the only one of this tie it would not have been undeserved, but Eddie Howe had the luxury being able to introduce a dash of Premier League quality from his bench. That turned the match with Joshua King, then Marc Pugh, scoring in the final 20 minutes to take Bournemouth into the fifth round for only the fourth time and the first in 27 years.

Not that the cup is much on their minds. The Cherries made ten changes from the team that drew at Sunderland last weekend, only full-back Adam Smith keeping his place. His economist namesake would have appreciated why. There are 100 million reasons why Bournemouth’s continued tenure in the Premier League is more important to the club than an FA Cup run.

This at least meant a fond return to Fratton Park for Sylvain Distin, a stalwart of Pompey’s 2008 FA Cup-winning team. Distin will have noted that, while there has been much work behind the scenes, the old stadium and it’s passionate occupants remain an antidote to the more sterile modern arenas.

Gary Roberts celebrates opening the scoring (Getty Images)

Alongside him club captain Tommy Elphick played his first game since suffering an ankle injury in mid-September, Juan Iturbe made his full debut on loan from Roma, and Lewis Grabban his first start since returning to the Cherries from Norwich.

Paul Cook, by contrast, stuck to the team that began the day fifth in League Two, in the play-off places. Portsmouth need promotion, but Cook also recognised the value - not least financial at this level - of a good cup run.

His players took their cue from the manager’s teamsheet of intent and were the sharper side from the start. From lower league veterans, loanees and talented youth products Cook has built a neat passing side and they enjoyed the challenge of testing themselves against a top flight club.

Nevertheless, Adam Federici, was only tested once in the first half-hour, scrambling to his right to turn aside an 18th-minute Tony McNulty drive. Soon after Bournemouth adjusted to Howe’s extensive rejig and twice came close to leading. Glenn Murray glanced a Euan O’Kane free-kick just wide, then Ryan Fulton turned Iturbe’s 20-yard shot against the post.

Portsmouth then enjoyed a long period of possession, prompting ‘Ole’s from the crowd but causing Bournemouth no alarm. Until, that it, a long ball was pumped forward, Marc McNulty won the header and combined with Enda Stevens to feed Roberts, in space, eight yards out. Never has a goal against Bournemouth reserves been so wildly celebrated.

Roberts could have doubled the lead from Kyle Bennett’s pass before Howe took action bringing on Matt Ritchie, who began his Premier League career with Portsmouth, and Pugh, with King taking a more central role. The Cherries immediately looked better balanced exerting pressure that paid off when King glanced in O’Kane’s free-kick. Clarke denied Grabban, Fulton saved from Pugh, but with seven minutes left he could only parry Grabban’s shot and Pugh headed in the rebound. Pompey’s chance had gone. It was back to reality as the fans left, asking each other how Northampton, Bristol Rovers and other League Two rivals had fared.

Portsmouth (4-2-3-1): Fulton; Davies, Burgess, Clarke, Stevens; Close, Doyle; McGurk, Roberts, Bennett; McNulty.

Substitutes: Webster for Burgess, 62; Evans for Roberts, 62, Tollitt for McGurk, 77.

Bournemouth (4-2-3-1): Federici; Smith, Elphick, Distin, Cargill; MacDonald, O’Kane; Iturbe, Grabban, King; Murray.

Substitutes: Ritchie for Murray, 62; Pugh for Iturbe; Francis for Elphick, 77.

Referee: M Dean

Man of the match: Close

Match rating: 8