Portsmouth skipper concedes '˜tough' victory at Bradford City

His fifth goal of the season arrived on 12 minutes at former club Bradford '“ and proved to be the match winner.

The division's bottom club tumbled to a seventh-successive defeat in the process, yet can feel hard done by that they didn't grab at least the point they deserved.

The Blues were forced to produce a gutsy defensive display during periods, while the hosts' Hope Akpan missed a sitter in stoppage time.

And Evans was delighted with Pompey's seventh away triumph of a promising campaign.

He said: '˜It was a tough game and we knew it was going to be tough.

'˜We watched some clips of Bradford and I think their league position is false in some respects, they've got some good players on their books and on paper are a really decent team.

'˜I've said in the past, when sides come up against teams at the top '“ or there or thereabouts at the top '“ then they are going to turn up. That was the case today.

'˜Us not scoring another goal made it a little bit nervy towards the end.

'˜We tried really hard towards the end of the first half to get that second goal, but it wasn't to be and made it a bit nervy towards the end.

'˜The players we have, though, are capable of holding on for a clean sheet '“ and we did.

'˜We are thrilled to get three points and stay top of the league.'