HARTLEPOOL UNITED fell to a third successive defeat, as they went down 2-0 to Portsmouth.

Defeats to Wycombe and Blackpool in the last two weeks were followed by another promotion contender as Pompey sailed to victory.

Pools were well beaten in the end, as Pompey were stronger in all departments.

Dave Jones side drop to third bottom in League Two, after Cheltenham won and victory for Newport means they are five points behind Pools with six games to go.

The opening goal came on 18 minutes as Kal Naismith, who impressed on loan for Pools last season, swept home a firm volley on the turn from 12 yards.

Pools were willing to have a go in the second half and Nathan Thomas was unlucky when he curled a 20-yard effort onto the inside of the post with keeper David Forde beaten.

However, a second goal on the hour killed the game off.

Pools lost possession in their own half, Naismith latched onto it and crossed for substitute Gary Roberts to crash past Joe Fryer.

Boss Dave Jones said: “They are an established team with some really experienced players. Their budget is probably three times ours, but we’ve matched them for most of the game.

“They are on a roll, and it’s hard to stop teams on a roll in their tracks. It was just mistakes that cost us dearly.

“That’s why we are where we are, and we need to learn pretty quick. But the players have worked hard, put a shift in and we have come up against a very strong team.

“Their team has been built over a long period of time, and that’s what we’ll be trying to do here.

“I’ve only been in two months and we have to go with what we’ve got. They key now is that we just get ourselves safe and then we can build something here.

“I’ve been successful before and this club will go places if the players buy in.”

HARTLEPOOL UNITED (4-3-3): Fryer; Donnelly (Magnay 90), Walker, Harrison, Deverdics; Woods, Featherstone, Alessandra; Oates (Rodney 75), Thomas, Amond. Subs: Dudskinki, Bates, Hawkins, Richardson.

PORTSMOUTH (4-2-3-1): Forde; Evans, Burgess, Clarke, Stevens; Doyle, Rose; Lowe (Chaplin 80), Bennett, Naismith (Kamamba 90)Hunt (Roberts 45). Subs: O’Brien, Whatmough, Linganzi, Talbot.

Referee: Mark Brown (Hull)

Bookings: Alessandra (4, foul), Rose (87, foul)

Attendance: 4,500