Awford backing for Shrewsbury

Portsmouth manager Andy Awford tipped Shrewsbury to go on and clinch promotion after seeing his side slump to a 2-0 defeat.

Pompey were among the pre-season favourites to go up but were distinctly second best as Bobby Grant's two-goal salvo helped the second-placed Shrews cut the gap on leaders Burton to two points. Awford said: "Shrewsbury were better than us today and deserved their victory. I think they will go on and get promoted. "We were not good enough in the first half and huffed and puffed in the second. "That was as good a team as I have seen this year from Shrewsbury. They are a good outfit." Pompey were booed off at full time and have now won only one of their last seven games - leaving their hopes of gate-crashing the play-offs in tatters. Awford said: "The expectation level of our supporters is always going to be there. We have no divine right to win every game but at home we expect to be better. "I have got no problem with the fans venting their frustration." Grant opened the scoring in the 25th minute with a sweet left-foot shot from the edge of the penalty area after being teed up by captain Liam Lawrence. The midfielder doubled his and the visitors' tally in the 66th minute with another stunning left-foot strike after the ball dropped to him 20 yards out. Only a brilliant last-ditch tackle from Cole Kpekawa denied Cameron Gayle in the dying seconds of a one-sided first half. Home goalkeeper Paul Jones also made a stunning point-blank save 11 minutes from time to keep out James Collins' driven shot. Jed Wallace's 54th minute shot saved by Jayson Leutwiler was virtually Pompey's only attempt on target. Shrewsbury boss Micky Mellon was forced to defend Grant, who was given a rollicking by referee Lee Collins for racing to celebrate his second goal in front of the home fans. Mellon said: "I do not know what the fuss was about. This is the biggest game we have had this season and our players were pumped up. "He maybe got himself carried away but it is football. It is an emotional game. He has scored a goal in a very big game and he is delighted to do that. "He pointed to the name on the back of his shirt because he wanted to let the fantastic Portsmouth fans know who he was. "They were two terrific goals. The first goal we cut Portsmouth open at a good time. "The second one he struck it very well. It might have taken a bit of a deflection but the keeper was never saving it."