Oliver Hawkins and Breet Pitman fired Pompey into the top half of League One as Pompey overcame Bristol Rovers at Fratton.

At the end of a first half in which Rovers had plenty of the play but little sight of Luke McGee's goal, Hawkins broke his Blues duck by heading in from close range after a right-wing crossed came off the head of a defender.

He had a nervous wait as a linesman flagged for offside but the officials conferred and the referee was happy the ball had come off a Rovers head.

That settled Pompey and Rovers rarely looked like spoiling the hosts' night, though they needed Pitman's late double to make sure of three points that took them up to 11th in the table.

First Pitman headed in Matt Kennedy's right-footed cross from the left byline, then he picked up possession midway inside Rovers' half, ran at the defence, wrongfooted his marker and fired low past the keeper. He has already scored seven goals at Fratton.

Pitman was named MoM and by the end this was a convincing victory - Pompey's second home win by three goals following the 4-1 success against Fleetwood 10 days ago.

They aim for more home comfort at the weekend when Oldham visit.

Pompey: McGee; Thompson, Burgess, Clarke, Donohue; Close, O’Keefe; Lowe, Pitman, Kennedy (Bennett 87); Hawkins (Evans 82). Subs not used: Bass, Talbot, Haunstrup, Naismith, Main.

Referee: John Busby

Attendance: 17,716 (782 away fans)

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