Brandon Thomas-Asante scored twice at Fratton Park as Coventry City beat Portsmouth to extend their lead at the top of the Championship to four points.
The Sky Blues stormed ahead in the first half thanks to a nicely worked corner routine that ended with Thomas-Asante firing into the net from close range.
Managers Frank Lampard and John Mousinho had to be separated just before the goal, involved in a fiery exchange after the home side had appeals for a penalty waved away.
Coventry then doubled their lead in the second half as Pompey were chasing an equaliser, Thomas-Asante ran clean through on goal before producing a fine finish to make it two.
Pompey fought back late on as Makenzie Kirk lobbed Carl Rushworth in stoppage time but the Sky Blues were able to hold off late pressure to pick up all three points.
For now Coventry have breathing room at the top of the table but second-placed Middlesbrough have the chance to reduce that to just a one point lead if they can beat Sheffield Wednesday on Wednesday.
After a fairly competitive and close opening 15 minutes, tensions spilled over off the pitch after Yang Min-hyeok crossed a ball in from the edge of the box that appeared to strike the arm of Coventry’s Jay Dasilva.
Referee Gavin Ward waved away the penalty appeals much to the frustration of Mousinho. Lampard then ended up getting into a heated exchanged with the Portsmouth boss and the fourth official had to separate the two.
Lampard’s side were then able to silence the Portsmouth manager and crowd as they took the lead from a corner.
Bobby Thomas met the ball first, nodding it across the box to Ellis Simms who then headed it in the direction of Thomas-Asante who was able to steer it home from close range.
Portsmouth started the second half well, pushing for an equaliser but just after 10 minutes into the second half they found themselves behind by two.
Simms and Portsmouth defender Josh Knight collided by the near touchline but it was the Coventry man who came out on top of the exchange and was able to then play a pass through to Thomas-Asante in loads of space and through on goal.
The Sky Blues forward then had plenty of time to compose himself before striking the ball past Josef Bursik with his right foot for his eighth goal of the season.
Portsmouth attacker Adrian Segecic was forced off with 15 minutes remaining, limping off the pitch minutes after coming on and in some pain after winning a foul for his side.
The home side had another appeal for a penalty waved away with 10 minutes remaining, Kirk sent a cross into the box that appeared to hit the hand of Luke Woolfenden after flicking up on his foot.
The Portsmouth fans were adamant that they should have a spot-kick but referee Ward did not budge from his initial decision of no penalty.
Deep into injury time Portsmouth managed to end Coventry’s five game clean sheet record as Kirk broke into the box and lobbed Rushworth from a tight angle for his first goal for the club.
Mousinho’s side threw everything at the final moments of the game and even sent keeper Bursik up for a corner but were unable to find what would have been a dramatic equaliser.
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