Portsmouth 3 Swansea 1: Neil Allen's verdict - Late, late, late drama earns remarkable Blues stunning triumph

Just when it appeared victory had been snatched from Pompey’s gasp, two stoppage-time goals settled a night of high drama at Fratton Park.

Regan Poole’s tug on Zan Vipotnik appeared to have thwarted the rejuvenated Blues from pulling off another notable result during their remarkable surge up the table.

The resulting penalty five minutes from time was netted by Vipotnik, cancelling out Terry Devlin’s 36th-minute opener to make it 1-1.

Indeed, minutes later, substitute Ross Stewart could have secured victory with just Nicolas Schmid to beat, only to strike the bar, much to the derision of the home faithful.

It represented a huge let off for John Mousinho’s men - and how they capitalised during five minutes of time added-on.

It was that man Devlin once again, one of four changes to the Pompey team, who restored the hosts’ lead in the 92nd minute following Odin Bailey’s right-wing corner.

And, as Mousinho’s side battled hard to return their advantage, Schmid’s booming free-kick was chased by substitute Thomas Waddingham who did brilliantly to retrieve it, before slotting past Lawrence Vigouroux to make it 3-1 in the 98th minute.

The Swans headed into the Fratton Park fixture positioned second in the Championship, yet had failed to even test Schmid with a shot from open play as the Blues refused to let them settle on the ball.

And, in the end, they were undone in stoppage time as the Blues climbed in 10th, kept out of the play-off positions by goal difference after a run of one defeat in 10 matches.

Of those who started against Burnley on Saturday, skipper Marlon Pack led the players dropping to the bench for the clash against the second-placed side.

Also omitted were Zak Swanson, Ryan Kavuma-McQueen and Abu Kamara, as the Blues’ head coach freshened up his team, particularly in attacking positions.

Odin Bailey was handed his full debut and named in the number 10 role, Adrian Segecic switched to the right wing, while Tyrese Shade was recalled to the left flank.

Meanwhile, Ebou Adams came in for Pack in the centre of midfield, while Devlin was preferred at right-back to Zak Swanson.

Once again, Josh Murphy and Conor Shaughnessy were named among the substitutes following their recent returns from injury.

The Blues had an early sniff of goal on four minutes, when Bailey pushed a pass through to Segecic inside the area.

The Croatian found himself with room to utilise his favoured left foot, yet he failed to strike it cleanly and his shot flew harmlessly wide of the far post when he should have been hitting the target.

Minutes later, Shade cut in from the left and his right-footed shot went through the keeper’s hands and out for a corner, yet it was extremely unconvincing from Lawrence Vigouroux.

Swansea were forced into a change on 23 minutes when Adams caught Stephen Welsh across the knee with a sliding challenge, earning the midfielder a booking.

Pompey had been slowly building up the tempo, largely down the right through Shade’s long throws, and it was no surprise when the opening arrived down that flank.

On 36 minutes, Devlin prodded the ball through to Segecic, allowing him to race ahead before pulling back a cross for Bailey, who found his way blocked.

However, Devlin, who started the move, popped up to latch onto the ball with a first-time right-footed finish, forcing it past Vigouroux to make it 1-0 to the Blues.

On the stroke of half-time, Adams brought down Filip Lissah just outside the box, although thankfully escaped a second yellow card, albeit still serving as a warning for the second half.

From the resulting free-kick, Josh Tymon squared the ball to Melker Widell, whose fierce shot deflected off Devlin and looped over the bar for a corner.

There was a change at the break for Swansea, bringing on Elijah Just for Windell for their second substitution of the match.

Mousinho had to make a change on 54 minutes, with Iyah Mohamed coming off with what appeared to be a calf problem, heading straight down the tunnel for treatment.

He was replaced by Pack who, moments later, fired a first-time shot over the bar and into the Fratton End following Segecic’s lay-off.

The Blues had a goal ruled out on 62 minutes when Jenson Seelt slipped under pressure from Segecic, who then squared a pass for Milovanovic to net from close range.

However, referee Matt Corlett ruled that Seelt had been tripped by the Croatian, much to the displeasure of the Fratton faithful whose celebrations were cut short.

There was misfortune for Milovanovic on 73 minutes when he pulled up while chasing a Devlin ball down the left channel, just as Mousinho was preparing to make a triple substitution.

The Serb came off along with Adams and Segecic, with Kamara, Thomas Waddingham and Murphy introduced off the bench.

Then, in the 81st minute, Shade was replaced by Swanson, who slotted in at right-back, with Devlin pushed up into midfield.

However, Swansea were handed a lifeline on 83 minutes, when they were awarded a penalty following Poole’s tug on the back of Zan Vipotnik’s shirt.

The centre-half was booked for his actions, while the Slovenian striker sent Nicolas Schmid the wrong way from the spot to make it 1-1.

The visitors should have made it 2-1 minutes later when substitute Ross Stewart struck the bar with just Schmid to beat and the goal gaping.

There was still time for another, however - and it went in Pompey’s favour.

Bailey’s 92nd-minute corner from the right was headed out by Stewart, by only so far as Devlin, who took a touch and fired a right-footed shot through a crowded penalty area for the winner.

Then, on the counter attack, substitute Waddingham latched on Schmid’s kick out of his hands to battle his way through and make it 3-1 in the 98th minute as Mousinho’s men continue their Championship charge.