Pompey slide to defeat at Scunthorpe

Goals in each half from Akpo Sodje made it a another frustrating night for the Blues at Glanford Park.

A promising start from Guy Whittingham’s men evaporated as Sodje was given the freedom of the box to head home five minutes before the break.

But a moment of class as Liam Walker whipped in a free-kick with his wand of a left foot in first-half stoppage-time saw Pompey go in level at the break.

The second-half was a scrappy affair after the Blues were giving a grilling from their management team at the interval.

Pompey had shouts for a penalty turned down, none stronger than when Adam Reed went to ground in the box after a jinking run.

The inevitable killer moment arrived with five minutes left, though, as sub Mike Grella whipped a ball in and Sodje again rose unopposed to head past Eastwood.

That was that and Pompey never looked like getting back into it late on.

That means it’s eight losses on the bounce and 18 games without a win for Whittingham’s side – one match short of their worst ever on both counts.