Pompey are celebrating back-to-back away wins after one of their finest displays of the season earned a 3-1 victory at the home of promotion rivals Accrington Stanley.

Goals by Kyle Bennett, Michael Doyle and an Accrington defender put them 3-0 up and secured the points before the break and the deficit was only reduced late on by a consolation.

The win, cheered by more than 500 long-distance Blues fans, moves Pompey above Stanley and into fourth place, a tantalising six points off the top three. They now need to build on the win with another at home to Newport on Saturday.

There was a surprise in the starting line-up as Michael Smith replaced Marc McNulty up front but the change didn't stop Pompey rediscovering the dominance that had seen off Stevenage on Saturday.

Pompey took the lead midway through the first half when Gary Roberts and Gareth Evans linked up well to create unease in the Stanley defence which saw a loose ball fall to Bennett, who rifled home.

Doyle struck the crossbar - it turned out he was just getting his eye in - before a Ben Davies cross was turned into his own net by Matty Pearson.

Minutes before the break a free-kick was only half-cleared and Doyle rattled in a 25-yard volley - his first Pompey goal and one he will do well to better all the time he is at Fratton.

The result was never in much doubt after that and Pompey looked more likely to get the game's fourth goal than Accrington for most of the second half.

There was controversy when Stanley brought on Rommy Boco with 23 minutes left, seemingly going against an agreement when he moved from Pompey that he would not feature in the game.

But there was never a chance he could influence the result - and the same could be said of a goal for the hosts by Shay McCartan, with a turn and shot from 15 yards, that with seven minutes left.

Stanley had half a go at throwing men forward in search of a second but Pompey remained in control to head home with three of the most valuable points of the season so far in their eighth away victory of the campaign.

Pompey: Fulton; Davies, Burgess, Webster, Stevens; Hollands, Doyle; Evans, Roberts (Naismith 78), Bennett (Freeman 83); Smith (McNulty 73). Subs not used: Bass, Clarke, Barton, Chaplin.

Referee: Stephen Martin

Attendance: 1,841 (584 Pompey fans)

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