The next stage of Pompey's promotion battle has become clearer after their win at Hartlepool, plus results elsewhere, made it certain they will face Plymouth in the play-off semi-finals.

The two south-coast sides will finish fifth and sixth and all that remains is to see who will end fifth and therefore be at home in the second leg of the knockout tie.

Kal Naismith and Conor Chaplin got the goals at Victoria Park but wins for Bristol Rovers and Oxford mean Pompey cannot now finish in the top three.

With Brian Murphy back in goal and Jack Whatmough making his first appearance of the season on the bench, Pompey had the best of a largely-forgettable first half.

Gary Roberts was again influential while Michael Smith and Gareth Evans were both denied in half-chances late in the half.

Pompey took the lead 12 minutes into the second half when Naismith produced a clever finish from Evans cross after Roberts had again been involved in the build-up.

The goal opened up the game although Pompey looked as likely to get a second as Pool did to level the score.

Adam McGurk came on for Naismith and Chaplin replaced Smith, signalling the end of the striker's loan spell, and he got a good ovation from the travelling fans.

Chaplin has a superb goals-to-minutes on the pitch ratio and he didn't do his season's record any harm with the side's second on 85 minutes, converting without fuss when Enda Stevens cut the ball back to him.

Whatmough got a huge cheer when he came on for Christian Burgess for the last few moments.

Now Pompey aim to end the regular league campaign with a win at home to Northampton next week to go into the play-offs on a positive run of victories.

Pompey: Murphy; Freeman, Burgess (Whatmough 89), Barton, Stevens; Hollands, Doyle (c); Evans, Roberts, Naismith (McGurk 64); Smith (Chaplin 73). Subs not used: Davies, Haunstrup, Close, Tollitt.

Referee: Eddie Ilderton

Attendance: 5,046 (933 Pompey fans)

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