Relive Portsmouth easing past Birmingham in Carabao Cup

On tonight's debut for 16-year-old forward Jude Bellingham, who became Birmingham's youngest ever player, Clotet adds:

"He had a bright start. Overall he played well and had a good connection with the fans. That's what we as a club are all about."

Asked if he regrets making so many changes for tonight's game, Birmingham's caretaker head coach Pep Clotet tells Sky Sports:

"No, it is important, we know we need to keep working to give them opportunities to get matches as much as possible. They all need minutes to improve themselves.

"We are not happy with the result but there were a lot of positives.

"I really look forward to helping these young players develop."

Portsmouth's Ben Close, whose sweet volley put them 2-0 up, tells Sky Sports:

"It was nice to get two early goals and then in the second half we kept the ball really well.

"It [my goal] was a nice strike. I just kept my head over it and luckily it flew in.

"We want to go as far as we can. We just want to win the next game, whether that's the league or the cup."

Portsmouth striker Ellis Harrison, who scored twice tonight on his home debut, tells Sky Sports:

"I missed a lot of last season through injury and it's nice to get minutes now. I should have got a hat-trick to be fair."

Birmingham's youngsters showed some decent touches and good flashes, but Portsmouth's experience showed.

The visitors will take away some hope for the future, but any hopes they had for a Carabao Cup run this season are over.

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That's it, Portsmouth reach the second round of the Carabao Cup. The League One side made it look easy.

Birmingham limp out of the competition they won as recently as 2011, having made nine changes for tonight, giving game-time to numerous teenagers.

Portsmouth are keeping the ball nicely, as the seconds tick down. We've got about 60 seconds left.

If Birmingham find three goals from here, I'll run to every second-round ground. It's just not happening.

There'll be three minutes of added time at Fratton Park.

Craig Gardner dips a swerving shot at goal from way, way out and Craig MacGillivray pulls off a second terrific save.

But Birmingham waste the resulting corner.

Ronan Curtis heads wide at the far post for Portsmouth, as their fans sing 'we're going to Wembley'...

It's been announced that tonight's attendance is 9,913 at Fratton Park.

Of those, 1,513 are Birmingham fans in the away end - I wonder how many of those thought they were travelling to watch their youth players tonight, and how many expected a more senior team?

The round trip is around 300 miles.

Sean Raggett gets his Pompey debut now, replacing Paul Downing, as Pompey coast towards the second round.

I’ve not spotted him yet, but Mick McCarthy is apparently in Fratton Park somewhere tonight.

He’s been watching Portsmouth pair Ronan Curtis and Marcus Harness, as well as Birmingham’s Dan Crowley ahead of naming his latest Republic of Ireland squad in a few weeks' time.

Birmingham's record-breaker Jude Bellingham comes off, with the 16-year-old replaced by 19-year-old Caolan Boyd-Munce, who is another debutant.

I feel old.

Birmingham skipper Craig Gardner tries his luck with a long-range strike from a free-kick and it is heading towards the top corner but Portsmouth keeper Craig MacGillivray pulls off a fine save.

Brandon Haunstrup and Brett Pitman replace Lee Brown and Ellis Harrison for the hosts, and the latter gets a huge cheer from the Pompey fans after his brace on his home debut.

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Birmingham's youngest ever player Jude Bellingham gets a booking on his debut for an over-the-ball tackle on Ellis Harrison. The 16-year-old took a bit of the ball and there didn't appear to be any malice in there, but it wasn't perfectly timed and the referee feels it wasn't the safest challenge.