Pompey took a while to get going against struggling Southend at Fratton Park - but ended up comfortable 4-1 winners to make it four games unbeaten.

Craig MavGillivray's calf injury gave Alex Bass his second start inside a month while Ellis Harrison came in for Gareth Evans and played as the main striker.

The first half was turgid at times with Southend content to sit back and defend and Pompey struggling to break them down.

But the Blues grabbed a half-time lead when sub Brandon Haunstrup - on for the injured Ross McCrorie - played a lovely ball into the box which John Marquis touched past the keeper.

Harrison doubled the lead a few minutes into the second half when he hooked the ball from virtually on the byline after a one-two with Ryan Williams appeared to have fizzled out.

Southend got one back just after the midway point of the second half when Brandon Goodship’s fierce shot from the edge of the area caught Bass by surprise.

Pompey restored their two-goal lead when Sean Raggett was hauled to the ground as he tried to meet a free-kick by the excellent Ronan Curtis and Harrison put away the penalty.

Sub Marcus Harness staked his claim for a recall to the starting XI with a nice finish for number four.

That makes it eight points from the last four games for Pompey and but for those late goals, it could have been 12. Next up it's a trip to Harrogate in the FA Cup next Monday.

Pompey: Bass; McCrorie (Haunstrup 40), Burgess, Raggett, Brown; Naylor, Close; Williams (Harness 73), Marquis, Curtis; Harrison. Subs not used: McGee, Downing, Evans, Cannon, Pitman

Referee: Lee Swabey

Attendance: 16,995 (316 away fans)

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