Leyton Orient completed the double over Portsmouth after a 1-0 win at Fratton Park to move back into the League Two play-off spots.

The O’s took the lead with a stunning opener early on in the second half when Jobi McAnuff struck a superb 25-yard strike past goalkeeper Ryan Fulton.

It was an excellent display from Orient in the second period and the visitors had chances to extend their lead.

But McAnuff’s spectacular strike was enough to hand Kevin Nolan’s side a third win in four games and clinch a vital three points over their promotion rivals.

Nolan made his first start for the club at Portsmouth this afternoon.

The player-manager came into a five-man midfield alongside Sammy Moore with Ollie Palmer dropping to the bench and Nigel Atangana not involved.

Nicky Hunt and Shaun Brisley were handed their debuts in defence with Sean Clohessy and Connor Essam named as substitutes.

The hosts made a bright start and Marc McNulty fired in a shot in the opening minute which was straight at goalkeeper Alex Cisak.

Pompey enjoyed most of the early possession but Orient were not overly troubled and the new defence looked well organised in the opening stages.

Portsmouth should have taken the lead when Kyle Bennett released McNulty but his low shot was parried by Cisak.

The hosts kept the pressure on but Bennett headed wide from Kieron Freeman’s cross.

The O’s were struggling to make any impression on the Pompey goal and winger Calaum Jahraldo-Martin lashed a shot high and wide of the target.

Orient had a rare opportunity from McAnuff’s free-kick but Mathieu Baudry headed into the side netting.

Bennett fired in ambitious strike from distance before the break but his shot rose over Cisak’s bar.

Orient went close just before half-time but Moore headed narrowly wide from McAnuff’s cross.

The O’s should have scored at the start of the second half when Nolan thumped the bar after Jack Payne’s shot was blocked by Christian Burgess.

But Orient grabbed the opening goal after 53 minutes when McAnuff hit a stunning 25-yard strike into the corner of the net.

The visitors should have doubled their lead after Nolan’s header was parried but Jay Simpson fired the rebound over from close range.

Orient were threatening on the break and almost added a second but Simpson’s header was held by Fulton.

Nolan’s first start for the club came to an end when the manager was replaced by Bradley Pritchard.

The visitors also brought on Clohessy for Moore as the midfielder started to run out of gas in his comeback game.

Orient were still holding their own and looking relatively comfortable as the Pompey fans became increasingly frustrated.

The O’s made a final change when Armand Gnanduillet was brought on for Simpson with ten minutes remaining.

Gnanduillet almost sealed the win but his late strike cannoned off the home post.

Pompey almost levelled when substitute Conor Chaplin headed narrowly over Cisak's bar.

There were five minutes of injury time but Orient defended manfully and held out for a superb win to climb back into the play-off places.

Portsmouth: Fulton; Stevens, Clarke, Burgess, Freeman; Bennett (Chaplin, 72), Close, Doyle, Roberts; Smith (Evans, 60), McNulty (McGurk, 72)

Subs not used: Bass, Davies, Webster, Barton

Leyton Orient: Cisak; Shaw, Baudry, Brisley, Hunt; McAnuff, Moore (Clohessy, 72), Payne, Nolan (Pritchard, 69), Jahraldo-Martin; Simpson (Gnanduillet, 80)

Subs not used: Sargeant, Essam, Palmer, Binnom-Williams

Referee: Graham Salisbury

Attendance: 15,643 (1,031 Orient fans)