Accrington Stanley remain in 23rd place after a narrow 1-0 loss at Portsmouth.

Stanley went behind in the 75^th minute to a Joe Pigott header and had a couple of strong chances to level but just couldn’t find the all-important goal.

John Coleman’s men are three points from safety with three games to play in the League One season.

Jack Nolan and Matt Lowe came into the starting line-up going forward, replacing Aaron Pressley and Seb Quirk.

Stanley started on the front foot and had a strong first half, pinning Pompey back.

Lowe shot narrowly wide in the early stages, Ethan Hamilton had a fierce drive blocked while Hamilton and Nolan both had strikes collected by ex-Reds loan keeper Matt Macey.

Pompey started coming more into the game around the 20^th minute mark with Lukas Jensen keeping out Joe Rafferty.

Hamilton had another go from distance while Michael Nottingham blocked a fierce Michael Jacobs strike.

Rosaire Longelo’s strike was just over the bar but Stanley suffered a setback when Portsmouth-born Tommy Leigh came off injured just before the break.

Stanley had double figure shots on the Pompey goal in the first half, with Portsmouth having just four attempts, but it was goalless at half-time.

It was a competitive opening to the second half but it was Portsmouth who started to create the chances.

Paddy Lane tried his luck but was unable to find the target while substitute Pigott headed over for Portsmouth.

However they took the lead in the 75^th minute when a cross from Jacobs found Pigott at the far post and he headed home.

Pressley and Nathan Butler-Oyedeji came on straight after as Stanley looked for the equaliser and they came so close.

Unmarked Harvey Rodgers had a free header but it was straight at Macey, McConville had a shot deflected over while, after a quick breakaway, former Red Colby Bishop drilled an effort just wide on 83 minutes.

Pressley had a great chance to level on 86 minutes when Rodgers put him through and, seven yards out with only Macey to beat, he fired over the bar.

That was it for Stanley as they left Fratton Park empty-handed.

Stanley: Jensen, Clark, Rodgers, Nottingham, Sangare (Tharme), Hamilton, Leigh (Quirk), Longelo, Nolan (Butler-Oyedeji), McConville, Lowe (Pressley)

Subs: Savin, Whalley, Martin

Yellow: Clark. McConville

Attendance: 17,594