Remi MATTHEWS: 5

An uncharacteristic howler from the Norwich loanee who has impressed massively during his time at Home Park so far cost Argyle dearly. ‘Unfortunately’, when a goalkeeper makes a big mistake, it can sometimes cost the team a game rather more so than in other positions. Matthews’ error in dealing with a long ball ended up doing so here.

Gary SAWYER: 6

A standard performance from Sawyer, who coped with most things thrown at him with his typical style in his 200th game for Argyle. His solidity of performance was on show, demonstrating that whilst he may not always be the man to shine he is rarely the man to have a blooper.

Sonny BRADLEY: 6

Bradley’s rating would be higher if not for his involvement in Portsmouth’s goal, where he could have intervened in stopping Kal Naismith from poking home. Apart from that, Bradley coped well with Naismith who was relatively quiet for the majority of the match and was a figurehead for much of Argyle’s attacking threat towards the latter end of the match.

Yann SONGO’O: 6

A typically solid performance from Songo’o who, partnered with Bradley, coped well with a lot of what Portsmouth were able to throw at them.

Aaron TAYLOR-SINCLAIR: 8 – MAN OF THE MATCH

If you had told me in July that Aaron Taylor-Sinclair would be Plymouth Argyle’s best player in this fixture I’d have called you insane. His pre-season performances coupled with his horror show at Bristol City in the league cup did not bode well. However, that is exactly what he was: confident on the ball, extremely competent defensively, and was always looking for a way to progress play forward – a very good performance from the 26 year old.

David FOX: 6

An impressive first half performance from Fox, who read the game well and made a significant amount of Argyle’s interceptions. Typically of Fox however, in the second half he began to run out of steam, and ended up being overran by the impressive Danny Rose and later on Stuart O’Keefe in midfield.

Antoni SARCEVIC: 5

After a very good performance from Sarcevic on Tuesday, he was constantly off the pace at Fratton Park this afternoon. He looked very weak and bizarrely appeared to lack his normal technical ability. A particular example was a moment both he and Jervis participated in a game of head tennis during the first half, instead of one of them actually bringing the ball under control.

Toumani DIAGOURAGA: 7

It’s another 7 for Diagouraga, who played his typical well-rounded game. He is always very imposing physically, yet it should also be noted that he is clever on the ball and never shies away from chasing down an opposition player.

Graham CAREY: 6

Just like he was against Oxford last week, Carey was double marked today and was nullified well by Pompey left back Brandon Haunstrup and the impressive Jamal Lowe when he tracked back. Saying that, when given the freedom to attack Carey still always looked capable of producing something, before his perhaps controversial withdrawal for Ruben Lameiras towards the end of the game.

Joel GRANT: 5

A pretty poor showing from the Jamaican, who lacked the confidence to really take on and take the game to the Pompey defenders, always looking for the safe and often negative option, mainly to ATS. Having said that, he did link up well with Taylor-Sinclair on a few occasions on the left hand side during the first half.

Jake JERVIS: 5

Typically of Jervis, he huffed and puffed but couldn’t quite blow the house down. There was no lack of effort from the former Pompey man who always looked to try to get behind the Blues defensive line, but an inability to win many aerial duels, shortage of clever movement off the ball and a lack of support from elsewhere meant he was ineffective for a large amount of the afternoon.

Substitutes:

Ruben LAMEIRAS: 5

Replaced Carey with 15 minutes to go. Typically of Lameiras he drifted through the game and had a chance near the end where he could have shot but spent too long lining it up.

Nadir CIFTCI: 5

A first Argyle appearance in some time for the Turk after he replaced Joel Grant just after the hour mark. He didn’t do too much in terms of having a direct impact on the match, although he did have a chance in stoppage time that he ended up rushing and skewing into the hands of Luke McGee where he could have taken a touch and lined up a better effort.

Lionel AINSWORTH: N/A

A late substitute for Antoni Sarcevic, the diminutive winger having nothing but a brief cameo for the second game in a row.