Football: Aldo salutes a Dutch of class; PORTSMOUTH 1 TRANMERE 2

PORTSMOUTH 1 TRANMERE 2

BOSS John Aldridge saluted flying Dutchman John Achterberg as Rovers snatched a smash-and-grab victory.

The keeper went from villain to hero in a bad-tempered tie between the First Division rivals.

He gifted depleted Portsmouth an early lead when his attempted clearance was blocked by Luke Nightingale and Lee Bradbury pounced to slot his first goal for 10 games.

Achterberg made amends for that error with a string of fine saves to keep rampant Portsmouth at bay.

Aldridge said: "John held his hands up and admitted his mistake for the first goal, but he certainly played his part after that. He kept us in the game with some crucial saves at important times." And Tranmere capitalised on Achterberg's agility by equalising just before the break through Steve Yates.

Rovers caught Pompey with a sucker punch on 68 minutes with Andy Parkinson grabbing the winner.

Rovers were reduced to ten men a minute later, Gareth Roberts seeing red for a second bookable offence.STAR MAN: John Achterberg.

Made a string of fine saves.

PORTSMOUTH: Tardiff 6, Crowe 7, Hiley 7, Moore 7, Thogersen 7, Quashie 7, Derry 7, Harper 7, Rudonja (Hughes 7), BRADBURY 8, Nightingale 7 (Claridge 6).

TRANMERE: ACHTERBERG 8, Hinds 6, Yates 7, Allen 7, Jobson 6, Hill 7, Flynn 6, Rideout 5 (Gill 4), Barlow 5 (Taylor 5), Roberts 5, Parkinson 7.

MANAGERS: Claridge 7; Aldridge 7.

REFEREE: D Gallagher 7.

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