Pompey moved to within five points of a place in the top three with a stunning comeback from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at Newport County.

They could even afford a Kal Naismith penalty miss as Danny Rose, Enda Stevens and then Naismith from a free-kick that seemed to get the last touch from a defender earned the three points.

Naismith and Noel Hunt came into the starting line-up in place of Kyle Bennett and Gary Roberts as Pompey looked to make up for the 0-0 home draw with Hartlepool.

Hunt and Michael Smith both saw half chances go begging as Pompey had slightly the better of the first 20 minutes but it was County who took the lead on 25 minutes as Josh Sheehan curled a 25-yard free kick into the top corner to leave David Forde helpless.

Rose, Christian Burgess and Stevens all went close to an equaliser before the break but Newport doubled their lead six minutes into the second half and there was a question mark over Forde as he failed to to hold a Sheehan shot and Rhys Healey bundled in the loose ball.

Rose quickly made it 2-1, sidefooting home Gareth Evans' low cross, and they had the perfect chance to level the scores when Naismith won a penalty for being pushed over when he went to meet a cross. He took the penalty himself - but blasted it over the bar.

Conor Chaplin, perhaps unlucky not to have started, replaced Carl Baker with 15 minutes left and five minutes later the Blues were on level terms when Stevens scored his first Pompey goal after a Rose set-up.

The momentum was firmly with Pompey and one point became three when Naismith's free kick from wide on the right eluded everyone, with the hint of a touch from a defender as it nestled in the corner of the net.

Pompey need to build on this sixth away league win of the season on their next road trip, which takes them to Yeovil on Friday night.

Pompey: Forde; Evans, Burgess, Clarke, Stevens; Baker (Chaplin 74), Rose, Doyle (c), Naismith; Hunt (Linganzi 89), Smith. Subs not used: O’Brien, Buxton, Whatmough, Lalkovic, Bennett

Referee: Charles Breakspear

Attendance: 3,714 (729 Pompey fans)

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