Old boy Marquis at the double as Pompey secure big victory over wasteful Cobblers

The final scoreline in no way reflected the pattern of the game, and whilst Pompey eventually swept to a sixth win in seven in comfortable fashion, their superiority didn't show in the first-half when, if anything, it was Town who saw more of the ball and enjoyed the better moments.

But their failure to make the most of one or two good chances would be punished ruthlessly either side of half-time. Marquis scored a poacher's goal late in the first-half and did likewise early in the second to set Pompey well on their way to victory.

Ronan Curtis finished emphatically to make it three and a late fourth compounded Northampton's sorrows.

The margin of the defeat was harsh but it's another brutal lesson for the Cobblers who must start learning fast with some important games coming up.

Alan Sheehan was thrown straight in for his Cobblers debut just hours after signing as Keith Curle packed the midfield at Fratton Park, starting Ryan Watson, Jack Sowerby and Christopher Missilou in the middle. Harry Smith was also recalled up front.

Sheehan saw a lot of the ball in the early stages and sprayed a couple of excellent passes out to the wings as Pompey allowed Cobblers to have possession and knock it around at the back.

Most of Town's possession was harmless but on 16 minutes they had a glorious chance to take the lead.

Watson initially did superbly to glide past two defenders and drive into the box but, with just the goalkeeper to beat, he snatched at his shot and agonisingly dragged wide.

That was by no means the only opportunity Town had as they worked several promising attacking positions but every time the final pass or shot was missing.

Crosses by Smith and Korboa were inches away from finding their targets before Watson side-footed over on the edge of the box .

It had been an excellent first 38 minutes for the visitors, who restricted Pompey to barely anything in attack, but they were then hit by the sucker-punch.

It was an ugly goal to concede, goalkeeper Jonathan Mitchell only able to parry Ryan Williams' long-range shot and the ball cannoned off Marquis and into the net, via a touch from Cian Bolger.

Marquis missed a good chance to score a second just three minutes later, scuffing his shot into the gloves of Mitchell, and Town still had a whiff of hope going into the break, only for the first five minutes of the second-half to sum up Town's struggles.

They had a great chance to equalise within 90 seconds of the restart through Korboa but he shot straight at Craig MacGillivary, and then two goals in the next three minutes killed the contest.

The first was unlucky on Mitchell, whose fabulous save from Curtis was in vain as Marquis reacted first to the rebound, but he had no chance with the second, Curtis afforded space by Bolger to whip a shot into the far corner.

Although it was largely about damage limitation thereafter, Town kept plugging away and won a succession of free-kicks, the last of which saw Sheehan almost bag a debut goal as his delightful effort was tipped over by MacGillivary.

Portsmouth knew the game was won and didn't go desperately searching for more goals, however Marquis went close and they did get a fourth late on, Harness heading in from close-range.

Match facts

Portsmouth: MacGillivray, Johnson, Whatmough, Raggett, Brown, Williams (Morris 90), Naylor (c), Cannon (Close 90), Curtis, Harness, Marquis.

Subs not used: Bass, Nicolaisen, Pring, Hiwula, Mnoga

Cobblers: Mitchell, Horsfall, Bolger (c), Sheehan (Martin 77), Harriman, Hoskins, Missilou (Rose 58), Watson, Sowerby, Korboa (Chukwuemeka 66), Smith

Subs not used: Arnold, Racic, Marshall, Adams

Referee: Trevor Kettle