Colby Bishop led the way with a hat-trick as Portsmouth took a giant step towards Championship safety with a spectacular 5-3 win at Norwich.
Matt Ritchie and Regan Poole were also on target in a victory that took Pompey six points clear of the relegation zone with just three games left to play.
The visitors took control by scoring three times either side of the interval to move 4-1 ahead after Josh Sargent had quickly cancelled out Bishop’s early opener.
Jack Stacey pulled one back for the mid-table Canaries but defender Poole made the game safe before Emi Marcondes headed home a late consolation.
Norwich made a bright start, forcing a corner inside 10 seconds and bringing a good save out of Nicolas Schmid in the first minute when Jose Cordoba fired in a low shot.
Pompey soon settled and went in front after 15 minutes as Ritchie swung in a cross from the right and Bishop rose highest to direct a header into the far corner.
The hosts were back on level terms within six minutes after Jacob Wright’s corner caused chaos in the Portsmouth area. Freddie Potts managed to hook the ball off the line but his clearance landed kindly at the feet of Sargent, who blasted home his 15th goal of the season.
Kellen Fisher wasted a glorious chance to put City in front, heading straight at Schmid after popping up unmarked at the back post – and the visitors then struck twice in seven minutes to move 3-1 ahead.
Ritchie side-footed home Josh Murphy’s low cross to restore his side’s lead after 39 minutes before Bishop doubled his tally from the penalty spot in injury-time after Marcelino Nunez had upended Isaac Hayden.
Bishop completed his hat-trick six minutes after the restart after more good work from Murphy. This time the former Norwich player put another good cross into the six-yard box after his initial effort had been blocked and an alert Bishop pounced on the loose ball and finished with aplomb.
Norwich pulled one back after 64 minutes, substitute Stacey racing clear down the right before thumping home his second goal in successive games.
But it did not take long for Pompey to restore their three-goal cushion. With 71 minutes on the clock a move down the right saw Adil Aouchiche cut the ball back for Poole to produce another emphatic finish to make it 5-2.
There was still time for one more goal, with Norwich substitute Marcondes glancing home a header from a corner in the final minute of normal time.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot chanted the name of his predecessor Jurgen Klopp after guiding the Reds to a record-equalling 20th top-flight title on Sunday.Slot’s side secured the Premier League crown with four games to spare as they came from behind to thrash Tottenham 5-1 on a sunny afternoon at Anfield.The Dutchman had a tough act to follow after replacing the hugely popular and successful ...
Pep Guardiola admitted winning the FA Cup will not be enough to call Manchester City’s season a success on the day his side reached the final but were dethroned as Premier League champions.Rico Lewis scored after just 109 seconds against Nottingham Forest at Wembley before Josko Gvardiol extended City’s advantage in the second half.City then rode their luck when Forest struck the woodw...
Rico Lewis scored after just 109 seconds to send Manchester City on their way to a third consecutive FA Cup final following a 2-0 defeat of Nottingham Forest at Wembley.Josko Gvardiol extended City’s advantage after 51 minutes before they rode their luck when Morgan Gibbs-White hit the crossbar, and then the post, as Forest attempted a comeback.Taiwo Awoniyi struck the City woodwork for a th...
Chris Davies believes Birmingham’s new League One points record will not be broken after their 4-0 victory over Mansfield took their tally to 105.Goals from Keshi Anderson, Willum Willumsson, Kieran Dowell and Tomoki Iwata, gave Birmingham their 32nd victory of the league campaign and saw them move past Wolves’ record of 103 set in 2013-14.The hosts were presented with the trophy after...
Liverpool clinched the Premier League title in style as they came from behind to thrash Tottenham 5-1 at Anfield.First-half strikes from Luis Diaz, Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo all but wrapped up a record-equalling 20th top-flight title before Mohammed Salah’s 28th goal of a prolific campaign and a Destiny Udogie own goal made the scoreline emphatic.Spurs briefly threatened to spoil a ...
Ruben Amorim reassured Manchester United fans “everything can change” in the balance of Premier League power after rivals Liverpool emulated his club’s record 20 top-flight titles.While Arne Slot’s runaway leaders were on the cusp of being crowned champions with victory over Tottenham at Anfield, 14th-placed United required an added-time equaliser from Rasmus Hojlund to scr...
Stevenage manager Alex Revell felt his side’s 1-1 draw against Rotherham was “a nice way to finish” – but he wanted more.Sam Nombe had put the Millers ahead in the eighth minute and that seemed to be enough until centre-half Dan Sweeney, thrown on as a makeshift striker after 88 minutes, snuck in to head the ball over goalkeeper Dillon Phillips two minutes into stoppage tim...
Birmingham set a new League One points record with a 4-0 hammering of Mansfield to reach 105 with two games remaining.First-half goals from Keshi Anderson and Willum Willumsson, followed by strikes in the second from Kieran Dowell and Tomoki Iwata, saw Chris Davies’ side pass the previous best of 103 set by Wolves in the 2013/14 season.The League One champions now need two more points to bre...
Let's start our Daily Laugh today. Liverpool draw level with arch rivals Manchester United on a record 20 top-flight titles Good Job Arne Liverpool EPL Champions 2024/25 Hojlund is back Bournemouth 1-1 Man Utd Toshiro Rudigaya after 120 mins Inter in April Please stay tuned on Daily Laugh. There will be more fun tomorrow!(Credit: Justtoonit, BleacherReportFootball)...
Nkunku informs Chelsea of desire to leave amid Bayern interestChristopher Nkunku wants to leave Chelsea, having struggled for minutes under Enzo Maresca this season, but his hope of joining Bayern Munich could hinge on Mathys Tel's future.Bayern showed interest in Nkunku during the January transfer window before ending their pursuit, but a back-up striker to Harry Kane is still on their wishlist a...
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