PORTSMOUTH came back to beat Millwall 2-1 in a scrappy affair on the south coast.

The match lacked any sort of quality across the 90 minutes, with both sides capitalising on the other’s mistakes to score their goals.

Millwall took an early lead when Nicolas Schmid played the ball straight to Jenson Metcalfe and the midfielder curled it into the bottom of the net. Lyndon Dykes then deflected the ball into his own net for Pompey’s equaliser, then Jake Cooper smashed the ball off Thomas Waddingham for the later winner.

While Fratton Park has often proved to be a house of horrors in recent years and it was a slight improvement on last weekend’s disappointment against Lincoln City, Millwall were again not good enough and have won just one game in their last seven. Results are needed soon.

Storm Austen had wreaked havoc on the south coast in the days building up to the game, and despite Portsmouth’s expensive new drainage system, the pitch was noticeably affected from minute one.

Both sides misplaced passes, slipped to the floor and misjudged the bounce of the ball. Millwall, however, were the first to benefit from the conditions.

Pompey keeper Nicolas Schmid had already just about got away with firing a long ball straight to Camiel Neghli, but was punished 20 seconds later when he played a goal kick straight to Metcalfe, who took a touch then fired the ball into the near post for his first goal for Millwall.

The Lions continued to look more comfortable in the conditions – with Pompey’s insistence on playing out from the back making both the home crowd, and their back four, increasingly nervous.

Neghli seized on another loose ball to burst into the Portsmouth half before being dispossessed, and Tristan Crama had a low cross scrambled clear in what was a strong spell of possession for the Lions.

The match would quickly turn again, however. Sturge needlessly conceded a free kick while trying to shepherd the ball out of play, and Segecic’s free kick was deflected into the net by Lyndon Dykes at the front post.

Pompey nearly scored again shortly after the restart when Marko Milovanovic headed over the bar from close range.

The football became increasingly scrappy and low on quality as the half went on, with neither side showing much threat in the final third.

Predictably, the only dangerous moments for either side came from set-pieces. Max Crocombe, who has never looked comfortable coming to claim corners, unconvincingly punched one clear and Metcalfe had to block Terry Devlin’s follow-up. Marlon Pack then curled a free kick just over the bar before half-time.

Millwall started the second half strongly, moving the ball through midfield quickly before working it out to Kyrell Lisbie for the first time in the game, but his effort was blocked.

That momentum quickly died, however, as both sides settled into the same pattern as the first half.

Both sides did enjoy a few more chances, though, as the game opened up.

Ryan Kavuma-McQueen drove the length of the pitch before being tackled by Camiel Neghli in the box, then Caleb Taylor played a lovely one-two before putting Neghli in behind. The winger chipped it in, and Lisbie’s shot was blocked.

Millwall kept up the pressure, and Lisbie and Metcalfe both had shots blocked within seconds of each other.

The resultant corner was headed clear, and Neghli volleyed it just over the bar.

Alex Neil made two attacking changes, bringing on Romain Esse and Mihailo Ivanovic for his first appearance of the season, as Millwall pushed for a winner.

Portsmouth also possessed plenty of attacking intent and nearly found a goal when Crocombe palmed Ebou Adams’ effort clear, and Marko Milovanovic lunged to try to tap it in, but Taylor put his body on the line to deny the Serbian.

Millwall won a string of set-pieces they were unable to capitalise on before Portsmouth found the decisive moment. Ebou Adams broke into the box with far too much ease, and after his initial shot was blocked, Cooper cleared the ball straight into Waddingham, and the ball went into the net.

Millwall pushed for a late equaliser in the four minutes of added-time, which saw Pompey have a penalty shout waved away, but their efforts proved fruitless.

Millwall: 4-2-3-1 – Crocombe; Crama (Leonard 75), Cooper, Taylor, Sturge; Metcalfe (Kelly 86), Mazou-Sacko; Neghli, Cundle (Doughty 75), Lisbie (Esse 68); Dykes (Ivanovic 68)

Unused substitutes: Evans, Osei-Tutu, Baggott, Sykes

Portsmouth: 4-2-3-1 – Schmid; Devlin, Poole, Dia, Swanson; Pack, Mohamed; Kamara, Segecic (Adams 61), Kavuma-McQueen (Shade 61); Milovanovic (Waddingham 72)

Unused substitutes: Bielica, Bailey, Kenny, Meghoma, Shein, Umeh

Referee: Tom Reeves