Peterborough defender Sagi Burton was sent off in first-half injury-time as Portsmouth recorded their sixth successive win in all competitions.

The Second Division's bottom club made the First Division leaders battle all the way for a place in the second round of the Worthington Cup.

Peterborough were unlucky to be trailing by Nigel Quashie's 26th minute goal when Burton was dismissed.

Referee Lee Cable did not see the incident but acted on the advice of his assistant in showing a red card to Burton.

Burton pleaded his innocence after appearing to elbow Portsmouth's Bulgarian international striker Svetoslav Todorov.

Peterborough's angry manager Barry Fry ran along the touchline to remonstrate with the officials and had to be escorted back to his seat by stewards.

Peterborough had plenty of possession but failed to use it although Helgi Danielsson fired wide and Neale Fenn should have done better after seizing on a mistake by Matt Taylor.

Spirited resistance

Peterborough's cause was not helped when busy midfield player Tony Shields was taken off on a stretcher in the 34th minute after a tackle by Pompey's Richard Hughes.

Portsmouth defender Arjan De Zeeuw was booked for a foul before Portsmouth went further in front in the 76th minute to ease the nerves of their supporters.

Todorov crossed from the right and Linvoy Primus lunged forward to score from six yards.

Peterborough threatened to cave in after the second goal and might have conceded more as Portsmouth at last showed some semblance of the form which has taken them to the pinnacle of the First Division.

Substitute Vincent Pericard, Todorov and Merson all went close and goalkeeper Mark Tyler made a great save to keep out a shot from Kevin Harper in the 81st minute.

Peterborough fought hard but failed to take advantage of their possession and never recovered from losing Burton in such controversial circumstances.

Portsmouth: Hislop, Festa, Primus, Arjan De Zeeuw, Arjan De Zeeuw, Quashie, Taylor, Hughes, Merson, Crowe, Todorov, Burchill. Subs: Kawaguchi, Harper, Robinson, Pericard, O'Neil.

Peterborough: Tyler, Joseph, Rea, Burton, Newton, Danielsson, Bullard, Shields, Pearce, Green, Fenn. Subs: Gill, Andy Clarke, Lee, MacDonald, Jelleyman.

Referee: L Cable (Surrey).