First half strikes from Ethan Galbraith and Josh Key gave the Welsh side a well-deserved two goal cushion at the break despite home striker Jacob Brown hitting the woodwork earlier on.
In a closer second period, Pompey pulled one back through the on-loan Luton forward, before a solid rearguard display saw off late pressure from John Mousinho’s side to see the Swans home for only their third victory on the road in 12 outings.
The win for Swansea sees them within five points of Wrexham in sixth place, and into the top half for the first time since October – setting the scene for the two sides league encounter on Friday night at the STōK Cae Ras Stadium.
Having made just the one change to the side that triumphed over Stoke on the weekend, Jay Fulton in for Marko Stamenic in midfield, the Swans went in search of a first win in Portsmouth since 1959.
Swansea started the first half brightly with the Championship’s leading goalscorer Zan Vipotnik having two early chances to add to his 17 strikes already this season.
The first came from the right, where the Slovenian mistimed a low cross to fire over the bar, before being unable to hit the target with a header after a pinpoint Josh Tymon delivery from the opposite flank.
Portsmouth did not offer much in the first half, but had the first golden chance after a clever corner routine found Brown on the edge of the box. The forward saw his first-time effort pushed on to the post by home goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux, with the rebound falling perfectly in the goalkeeper’s hands.
The visitors claimed the lead midway through the first half through a well-timed Galbraith finish, but it owed much to the Swans crisp build-up play.
Vigouroux starting the move with a 70-yard diagonal pass picking out Eom Ji-sung before finding Tymon, who recovered from a blocked shot to lay off to Northern Irish midfielder Galbraith to curl home for his fourth goal of the season.
The Swans doubled their advantage ten minutes later through back in favour full back Key. The former Exeter man was given plenty of time by the Pompey defence on the edge of the box to loop a wickedly deflected effort over home stopper Nicolas Schmid to a raft of boos from the home faithful.
Galbraith had two contrasting chances to add a third after the break. The first an opportunistic blast from the halfway line, which nearly caught out Schmid, and then a drag across goal when clean through.
Pompey had lost their previous two home matches without scoring, with three blanks in a row not seen at Fratton Park since 2008. Substitute Connor Chaplin thought he had ended the drought when he steered in, but the ball had already gone out of play in the build-up.
The barren run would finally be beaten in the 66th minute when Brown headed in Zak Swanson’s cross for his first goal since arriving in Portsmouth colours from Luton.
Pompey then formed a late charge with both midfielders John Swift and Swanson forcing Vigouroux into saves with stoppage-time headers, but the home side could not salvage a point as the Swans held firm to pick up the points.
Swansea City XI
Lawrence Vigouroux, Josh Key (Joel Ward 70), Josh Tymon, Ben Cabango (captain), Cameron Burgess, Jay Fulton, Ethan Galbraith (Melker Widell 59), Goncalo Franco (Marko Stamenic 70), Ronald, Eom Ji-Sung (Malick Yalcouye 83), Zan Vipotnik (Liam Cullen 59).
Portsmouth XI
Nicolas Schmid, Terry Devlin, Zack Swanson, Madiodio Dia (John Swift 84), Connor Ogilvie, Marlon Pack (captain), Ebou Adams (Harvey Blair 88), Gustavo Caballero, Jacob Brown (Adrian Segecic 76), Millenic Alli (Connor Chaplin 45), Colby Bishop.
[Lead image: Swansea City FC]
