Uninspiring Portsmouth slip to defeat against Doncaster

Reece James’ late winner ensured the Blues’ frustrating start to the League One season continued.

Kenny Jackett’s side had more possession and shots on goal but scarcely tested the visiting keeper.

Pompey were given a scare for eight minutes but Craig MacGillivray was alert to keep out Fejiri Okenabirhie.

Doncaster continued to have the better of things in the early stages, with Reece James having an effort hit the side netting on 20 minutes.

The Blues would finally start to get a foothold in the game, though.

On 26 minutes, Jack Whatmough met Lee Brown's corner at the back post but saw his header saved.

It was from dead-ball situations where Pompey looked likeliest to score. In the final few minutes of the first half, Tom Naylor nodded over before Sean Raggett got his effort all wrong following Brown’s good cross.

Pompey made a decent start to the second half, with Andy Cannon firing over from long range.

Then Johnson sent in another dangerous cross for Ellis Harrison to glance just wide of the far post.

MacGillivray had to be alert once again when his palms were stung by Okinabirhie's effort on 58 minutes.

Neither side perhaps deserved to take the lead, but Donny made the breakthrough on 79 minutes.

Harness gave the ball away on the halfway line and the visitors broke. The ball was worked to James inside the box, who spun before his left-foot effort picked out the top corner.

Pompey tried to push for an equaliser but, in truth, never looked like getting one. Bar a John Marquis deflected cross that nearly crept into the near post, they scarcely made the keeper work.