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Pompey plough on at Tractor Boys' expense

Championship? You're 'avin' a laugh! So the Pompey fans sang as their team got the better of Ipswich in their FA Cup third round replay at Fratton Park.

It was the fourth time this season the Blues had taken on second-tier opposition and they have chalked up two wins and a draw in those contests. For their next trick, they will attempt to go one better and try to overcome a Premier League team in the next round, in the form of Eddie Howe's Bournemouth.

A Gary Roberts penalty and a Marc McNulty header put Pompey through to round four for the first time since 2010 and no-one who was present can say they did not deserve it.

With Christian Burgess back in defence, Adam Barton moved into midfield. And Pompey looked up for the challenge from the off with Kyle Bennett and Roberts going close.

Gareth Evans and Barton put McNulty through on Bartosz Bialkowski but the big keeper won the battle.

Pompey went ahead from the spot when Roberts picked himself up after a foul by Piotr Malarczyk - already booked and perhaps lucky to stay on - to crack home the penalty.

They doubled their lead when Evans made space for himself on the right and sent a superb cross into the centre of the box which McNulty headed in.

After the break, it was Pompey who looked most like getting the all-important next goal.

McNulty was denied again by the keeper before Michael Doyle sent a free kick narrowly wide.

On-loan Arsenal winger Ainsley Maitland-Niles gave Ipswich hope with a 20-yard shot that sailed into the top corner - but if Ipswich were desperate to stay in the cup, they showed few signs of it in the closing 25 minutes as Pompey kept them at bay with some ease.

Next up it's Bournemouth on Saturday week - and season ticket holders can get their tickets from Wednesday (Jan 20).

Pompey: Murphy; Davies, Burgess (Close 85), Webster, Stevens; Barton, Doyle (c); Evans, Roberts (Chaplin 82), Bennett; McNulty. Subs not used: Bass, May, Tollitt, Naismith, McGurk

Referee: Andy Woolmer

Attendance: 15,179 (796 away fans)

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