Preston North End 2-1 Portsmouth: Thordarson’s late strike dents Pompey’s survival bid

Pompey came the closest to an opener in a relatively uneventful first 45 minutes through Andre Dozzell’s curling effort on the stroke of half-time, but the game burst into life in the second period.

Preston boss Paul Heckingbottom made four changes at the break in an attempt to liven up his side, with Liam Lindsay, Jayden Meghoma, Mads Frokjaer-Jensen and Ryan Ledson all withdrawn for Ben Whiteman, Robbie Brady, Sam Greenwood and Andrew Hughes.

The shake-up worked and Emil Riis almost found the opener after 59 minutes but headed narrowly wide from substitute Greenwood’s excellent cross.

Midway through the second half, Portsmouth came close to taking the lead themselves when Cohen Bramall drove forward and thundered a 30-yard drive off the underside of the crossbar with Preston goalkeeper Freddie Woodman well beaten.

With less than 15 minutes to go, the hosts broke the deadlock when Porteous bundled in at the far post from close range – his first goal for Preston since joining on loan from Watford in January – after Ched Evans had flicked on Andrew Hughes’ headed cross.

Pompey rallied and Bishop levelled in the 83rd minute, losing his marker in the box and converting Murphy’s corner from the left for his seventh league goal of the season.

Evans almost restored Preston’s lead within a minute after he stabbed Brady’s cross towards goal, but it was well saved by Schmid.

Thordarson then came up with a moment of magic in the 87th minute, taking a brilliant touch to bring Brady’s lofted through ball under control before skipping past the onrushing Schmid and hammering home with little of the goal to aim at.

Greenwood was shown a second yellow card and sent off late on for a high arm on Bishop, but the damage was already done for Portsmouth, who ceded ground in the survival scrap to Oxford United, Cardiff City and Derby County who all won.