Matthew Taylor celebrated his return to first team action with a goal as Pompey beat ten-man Northampton Town 5-2 at Fratton Park last night.

Left-back Taylor had not played for Pompey since March after a career-threatening Achilles injury.

But he returned with a bang in the Carling Cup last night, scoring what turned out to be the crucial third goal on 40 minutes in front of an 11,113 Fratton Park crowd.

After Teddy Sheringham had laid the ball into his path, Taylor found the far corner with a rasping 20 yard strike from the corner of the penalty area.

Manager Harry Redknapp, who made eight changes, said: "It's great to see Matty Taylor back. I expected him back four months ago, it's been a nightmare six months for him and his family.

"He was in the England under 21 squad earlier this year and deservedly so, he played some terrific football last season and I'm sure he can get back to that.

"It was a big relief to see him back tonight, espcially with Patrik Berger being out and he'll definitely be in the squad for the trip to Birmingham on Saturday."

Third division Northampton were reduced to ten men after just ten minutes when their captain Paul Reid upended Jason Roberts, who was clean through on goal.

Then Tim Sherwood, one of the three survivors from the side that lost at home to Blackburn three days earlier, scored the first of his two headed goals following a Gary O'Neil corner.

Roberts clipped his first goal for Pompey over Lee Harper with 17 minutes gone and with half-time approaching Sheringham, who had had a header disallowed, teed up Taylor's first goal since the 21-year-old's goal of the season contender at Leicester in February.

An O'Neil cross resulted in a close range header for Roberts on the hour, after Harper had denied Sheringham from point-blank range.

Then Northampton, who were without £150,000 striker Josh Low, forced Pompey debutant Harald Wapenaar into two smart saves either side of a Sheringham header that was tipped on to the cross bar.

Wapenaar gave away a penalty with 15 minutes left after bringing down the impressive Lawrie Dudfield. He saved the first kick, then Chris Hargreaves made no mistake after referee David Crick ordered it to be retaken.

But Cobblers boss Martin Wilkinson was furious Wapenaar had not at least been booked.

He said: "All we ask for is consistency. It might sound like sour grapes but Paul Reid was 30 yards from goal when he made the foul that got him sent off and the Portsmouth goalkeeper wasn't even cautioned. I asked for an explanation but the officials treat us like children, it's very frustrating."

A deft Sherwood header from a Sheringham cross restored Pompey's four-goal lead but Dudfield tapped home the goal he deserved in injury time.

Pompey: Wapenaar, Schemmel (Stone 64), Primus, Foxe, Taylor, O'Neil, Sherwood, Smertin, Pericard, Sheringham, Roberts.

Subs not used: Srnicek, De Zeeuw, Stefanovic, Yakubu.