Brett Pitman continued his fine form in front of goal to give Portsmouth to a 1-0 victory over Southend at Fratton Park.
Pitman, 29, was on hand to bag Pompey's winner for the second match in a row and took his goal-scoring tally to 12 for the season in the process.
The ex-Ipswich striker also had the first chance of the game after just five minutes when he was inches away from turning Ben Close's cross into the back of the net.
Southend responded with a shot of their own in the 19th minute as Theo Robinson tested the reactions of goalkeeper Luke McGee with a curling effort from 20 yards.
The linesman then awarded the visitors a penalty in first-half injury time when Christian Burgess was adjudged to have handled the ball, but Nile Ranger smashed his spot-kick over the bar.
And Southend were made to pay for his costly miss in the 54th minute when substitute Matty Kennedy picked out Pitman in the box before he guided the ball past Mark Oxley.
Source: PA
