Erik Huseklepp bagged a brace as Portsmouth, like Brighton before them, came through a difficult week to clinch a vital away victory at the expense of Darren Ferguson's Peterborough United at London Road.

Skipper Grant McCann returned to the starting line-up for the visit of Portsmouth with Lee Frecklington also restored to the team. It was McCann who had the first effort of the game, but his low drive went wide of the target.

On five minutes, Pompey opened the scoring as Futacs was afforded a free header in the six yard box, Joe Lewis saved the initial effort and the rebound from HUSEKLEPP but the striker was well placed to stab in to give the visitors the lead.

The goal-scorer fired wide moments later after the ball fell kindly to him inside the box as Portsmouth pressed in the early exchanges, kicking towards their own supporters.

The lively Paul Taylor fired a powerful shot just past the upright on 20 minutes after picking the ball up from deep. On 23 minutes,  Joe Lewis made a stunning low stop to deny Liam Lawrence's shot from six yards as Portsmouth continued to threaten.

Experienced midfielder Hayden Mullins fired wide of the target on 36 minutes after patient play from the visitors. On 41 minutes, Portsmouth doubled the lead as a corner from the left was powered past Lewis by Jason PEARCE at the near post.

Moments later, skipper McCann curled a free-kick over the crossbar after Tomlin was felled by Joel Ward.

Half-time: Posh 0-2 Portsmouth

Neither side made any changes during the half-time interval as Darren Ferguson intrusted his players to step up the pace for the second period. Taylor fired inches past the post after a good flick on from Lee Tomlin on 53 minutes before boss Ferguson introduced David Ball from the substitutes bench. Joe Newell made way.

Ryan Tunnicliffe and Mark Little were also introduced from the bench as Ferguson played showed his hand. McCann's free-kick was pushed around the post by Henderson for probably his first real save of the game before Halford fired wide on the counter-attack.

Tommy Rowe saw a shot saved by Henderson, although the goalkeeper spilled the low effort and Rocha had to poke the ball behind for a corner kick. Lewis denied Huseklepp on 74 minutes after a clever move before Lawrence curled well wide.

Taylor had another go from distance on 78 minutes, but the effort cleared the crossbar. However, it was game over on 80 minutes as the impressive HUSEKLEPP cut inside and fired low into the corner.

Etuhu wasted a good opportunity to make it 4-0, but sliced horribly wide from just inside the penalty area.

Final Score: Posh 0-3 Portsmouth

Posh: Lewis, Alcock, Zakuani, Bennett, Rowe, McCann, Frecklington (sub Tunnicliffe 62min), Newell (sub Ball 54min), Tomlin (sub Little 60min), Boyd, Taylor. Unused subs: Jones, Sinclair.

Portsmouth: Henderson, Ward, Rocha, Pearce, Lawrence, Mullins, Futacs (sub Kitson 82min), Huseklepp, Etuhu, Halford, Ben Haim. Unused subs: Ashdown, Williams, Benjani, Webster.

Attendance: 7,555 (1,276 Portsmouth fans)