Ipswich 1-0 Portsmouth
- Published
Ipswich moved into the Championship play-off positions with a narrow win over Portsmouth.
The visitors made more of the running in the first half, with Ipswich goalkeeper David Stockdale denying Luke Varney and Dave Kitson.
But Keith Andrews scored a close-range winner from a Nathan Ellington knock-down midway through the second half.
Ipswich were hopeless - Paul Jewell
Portsmouth, managerless since Steve Cotterill's move to Nottingham Forest, slip to 18th in the table.
Pompey, who have now won only twice in their last nine games, were not only denied by Stockdale, but Liam Lawrence and former Town player David Norris also missed good opportunities.
Lee Bowyer struck Ipswich's only shot on target in the opening period, but Paul Jewell's side improved after the restart and earned the three points when Andrews pounced following Carlos Edwards' cross from the right.
Whittingham reflects on the positives
The Republic of Ireland international was in the right place to profit from Ellington's assist to send the majority of the 17,297 crowd home happy.
Portsmouth pressed for an equaliser and Joel Hunt sent a curling shot just over the bar from distance, but Ipswich hung on for their fourth win in six games.
Jewell admitted after the game his side were fortunate to win, saying: "Portsmouth were the better side but we kept working, rode our luck and desire got us through. Sometimes as a manager, results like that are as satisfying as when you play really well, though.
"It gives us confidence that when we're not at our best we can get dig in, get our blocks in and win ugly. But it wasn't a vintage performance by any stretch of the imagination."
Portsmouth caretaker manager Guy Whittingham said he was pleased with the team's performance, but distanced himself from taking on the vacant manager's position on a full-time basis.
"Nothing's changed in that respect. After the game on Saturday I had a headache until ten o'clock.
"Then I couldn't get off to sleep. When I did get to sleep I woke up at four o'clock and I couldn't get back to sleep again.
"I don't want that every week - but I would like to stay on in my capacity as a coach."