It was the Wayne Rooney show at Fratton Park as the Everton and England striker was dropped, recalled, hit the winner in a 2-1 victory and even thought he had been sent off on a day of drama on the south coast.

Rooney was left out after weeks of poor form - then introduced on the right of midfield following Steve Watson's 22nd-minute injury and produced the star turn to clinch this 2-1 victory against Portsmouth.

And there was certainly a seasonal element of pantomime about the Toffees' first away win since April, with Rooney trudging off the field in the 72nd minute believing he had been dismissed for shoving Steve Stone.

However, just as he reached the tunnel, Kevin Campbell beckoned him back on and referee Uriah Rennie, after a lengthy pause, produced only a yellow card.

So it was certainly an action-packed afternoon for the 18-year-old who hit his first league goal since August to improve Everton's woeful away record which stood at just two points from a possible 21 at kick-off.

Jason Roberts had fired Portsmouth ahead after 16 minutes, latching onto the influential Teddy Sheringham's pass and calmly slotting past Nigel Martyn.

It was the former West Brom man's first league goal for the club, cracking Pompey's six-hour goal drought and marking his comeback from a five-game lay-off with an ankle injury.

But the south-coast side's dominance quickly evaporated and Lee Carsley smacked home the equaliser after an unselfish pull-back by Gary Naysmith in the 27th minute.

Naysmith also played a major role in Rooney's 42nd-minute winner, delivering the left-wing cross which Pavel Srnicek flapped at and allowed Rooney to thunder home at the far post.

Pompey had started well, with Alexei Smertin slamming a sweet volley from the edge of the box straight into Nigel Martyn's chest.

And their dominance paid off when they bagged the opener with 16 minutes on the clock.

Sheringham, a powerful influence on a wild afternoon on the south coast, arrowed a pass through to Roberts and the striker composed himself before side-footing past Martyn from 12 yards.

Rooney entered the fray and Everton almost immediately equalised.

Naysmith cut in on goal from the left and, rather than shoot himself, cut Srnicek out of the play by squaring for Carsley to fire the ball home.

And Everton powered ahead after 42 minutes when Srnicek handed Rooney a goal on a plate.

He flapped at Naysmith's whipped cross from the left and palmed the ball into Rooney's path at the far post.

The England star smashed a blistering shot back into the goalmouth and Srnicek could only get a hand to the ball as it rocketed into the net.

Moyes' men were close to making it 3-1 five minutes after the interval.

Rooney returned Kevin Kilbane's deep cross to the six-yard box and Radzinski was crowded out as he attempted to divert the ball over the line.

Aiyegbeni made a mess of a gilt-edged opportunity to haul the visitors back onto level terms in the 64th minute.

Alan Stubbs' error allowed the forward to latch onto Sheringham's pass - but he dallied and his eventual shot clipped David Unsworth's heels and brushed the wrong side of the post.

There was an incredible incident in the 72nd minute.

Rooney squared up to Stone after a block tackle involving the pair in the centre-circle - and Rooney reacted by shoving the Pompey man to the turf.

Ref Rennie raced over, the home faithful chanted for Rooney's dismissal and - as the official reached into his pocket - Rooney trudged off the field believing he was being sent off.

But, as the England man was just about to enter the tunnel, Campbell called him back on and Rennie, after a lengthy pause, produced only a yellow card.

Portsmouth pressed before Rooney fired a yard wide late on.

Close

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