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Money backs Portsmouth for title

Image: Richard Money: Portsmouth will be champions

Richard Money tipped Portsmouth to win League Two after seeing Cambridge fail to take advantage of their 10-man hosts in a 2-1 loss.

Pompey took the lead through Ryan Taylor on 34 minutes when the striker glanced a header past Chris Dunn from a fine Miles Storey cross. Money's men were handed a lifeline when young full-back Adam Webster saw red just before half-time for two needless challenges on Harrison Dunk. But, despite the numerical advantage, the home side doubled their lead on 66 minutes when Liam Hughes smashed a clearance off Tom Bonner and saw it trickle into his own net - with Cambridge goalkeeper Dunn credited with the own goal. Crystal Palace loanee Kwesi Appiah pulled one back minutes later but the Conference play-off winners from last year could not find another goal, which left Money frustrated. Money, who spent two years at Fratton Park in the 1980s, said: "It is a tough place to come but is another massively missed opportunity against a team who I think will win the league. "We have missed a real opportunity to turn the game on its head and we have got to learn very quickly and need to believe we are as good as what we think we can be. "Without that belief more golden opportunities will pass us by and we should have won here given the way the game has gone. "I think a lot of people from Cambridge who came were just happy to be in the stadium and happy to be in the Football League. "It is no good to me, I am not interested in that. I think we are better than that and have shown it. Eleven against 11 we were far the better team and have bossed the game at times." Appiah should have got the opener for Cambridge after six minutes but dragged a shot wide when clean through on Paul Jones's goal. Storey then cannoned a shot off the crossbar on 22 minutes as Andy Awford's men tried to use the 16,000-strong crowd to spur them on. In the second half, before the calamitous own-goal, Ryan Donaldson also smacked the woodwork with a fine right-foot drive. Awford, who is unbeaten in 10 league games in charge, said: "If we can go another 10 unbeaten that will do me. "I can't control the bookies making us favourites. It is too early to comment on who will win the league. We will do our best every single game and see where it takes us. "I can't praise the players enough as the performance was absolutely brilliant and Ryan scored a great goal, I am delighted for him and he has deserved it."

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