Raggett the hero as Portsmouth scrap their way to Forest Green win

Raggett’s first-half header gave Danny Cowley’s men a 1-0 success and ended a run of four winless League One games.

Pompey were dominant for the first 45 minutes but the home side upped the pressure after the break.

It was wasn’t pretty from there, but Cowley’s men held out on an afternoon when Jay Mingi shone as he was given his first league start on his 22nd birthday.

Pompey made five changes from the side who were so poor at Charlton with Joe Pigott, Ronan Curtis, Ryan Tunnicliffe, Zak Swanson and Jay Mingi coming in for Dane Scarlett, Josh Koroma, Marlon Pack, Michael Morrison and Joe Morrell.

The Blues were quick out of the blocks with Colby Bishop seeing his shot pushed on to the bar after Ronan Curtis and Jay Mingi combined.

The breakthrough came in the 17th minute as Sean Raggett headed home at the back post from Owen Dale’s free-kick.

Pompey almost doubled their advantage nine minutes before the break as Pigott prodded wide after a scramble in the box.

Curtis curled a shot wide at the end of the half in which the home side failed to threaten with Mingi absolutely outstanding in the middle of the park.

The second half saw the home side come back into the game more after barely threatening in the first half.

Josh Griffths wasn’t overly extended, however, despite the increased Forest Green pressure.

Reeco Hackett saw his drive pushed away by McGee with 11 minutes left as Pompey regained control of the game, before Scarlett missed a golden chance for a second as he put a free header wide from six yards.

Josh Koroma then whistled a shot just past the upright late on as the Blues saw out the win.