Simon Cox's fourth goal in as many games was not enough to prevent Swindon from going down 3-1 to Premiership Portsmouth at The County Ground on Friday night in front of just under 8,000 fans.

Town had taken the lead early on when Cox stepped up to fire past James from the spot, before first half goals from Hermann Hreidarsson and Jermain Defoe put the Blues ahead before the break.

Portsmouth included a number of their FA Cup winning side in their line-up at The County Ground with David James, Sol Campbell and Jermain Defoe in their starting eleven.

It was Pompey who carved out the real chance of the game on five minutes. A slick turn and shot from trialist OJ Koroma saw his effort sail into the arms of Slovakian stopper Peter Brezovan.

Swindon coped with the early possession from the visitors and bounced back in style. A good interchange between Paynter and Cox up front saw the former Reading striker advance into the box only to be brought down by Noe Pamarot.

Cox stepped up to slide the ball past James to hand Town the lead with eleven minutes on the clock.

Harry Redknapp's side immediately set forward after the goal with former Crystal Palace defender Hermann Hreidarsson seeing his strike from range tipped over the bar by Brezovan.

The visitors continued to pile on the pressure with Richard Hughes seeing a long range hit blocked by McGovern.

Anthony McNamee almost put Town two goals to the good with fifteen minutes on the clock. Excellent control inside the box saw the winger step inside his marker and his shot from 12 yards was palmed away by James.

The winger continued his excellent form with his cross on 25 minutes repelled by Campbell with Town pushing for a second. And it was Swindon who did have the ball in the net two minutes later only for Cox's effort to be ruled offside.

Richard Hughes almost capitalised on a poor ball out of defence from Kanyuka on 34 minutes. The defender's pass out of the box found Hughes who had time to compose himself before firing onto the top of the Town End.

Ten minutes before the break and Billy Paynter was denied from close range by an excellent block from Campbell after another incisive run from McNamee.

The visitors got back on level terms on 39 minutes. Hermann Hreidarsson's one two saw the Icelandic defender collect the ball back inside the box before calmly chipping the onrushing Brezovan to make it 1-1.

Portsmouth were awarded a penalty a minute before the interval with trialist Koroma felled by Amankwaah inside the area. Jermain Defoe stepped up and sent Brezovan the wrong way from the spot to make it 2-1 to the FA Cup holders.

Half-Time: Swindon Town 1 Portsmouth 2

The visitors made several changes at the break, amongst them Peter Crouch who came on to make his second Pompey debut after his £11 million switch from Liverpool. Sylvain Distin was also brought on with David James and Sol Campbell amongst those to be rested at the break.

Mark Marshall was introduced for Swindon, his first outing since joining on trial from Eastleigh. Phil Smith replaced Peter Brezovan with Marshall replacing Allen, with Marshall switching to the right and McGovern inside.

It was Marshall who almost opened the scoring in the second half as he latched onto a deep cross from McNamee, but the trialist was just unable to divert the ball home from a narrow angle.

Swindon almost grabbed a second on 54 minutes with a low drive from McNamee blocked at the near post by Distin at the near post. Martin Cranie then saw his flying header well saved by Phil Smith with the visitors advancing with purpose.

Town then made a double switch with Jerel Ifil and Jack Smith replacing Patrick Kanyuka and Kevin Amankwaah.

Crouch almost marked his return to action with Portsmouth with a goal twenty minutes before the break. A deep cross from the right found the striker at the back post but he could only head narrowly wide with the two Smith's in close attention.

There was another Swindon chance soon after with Paynter heading wide from McNamee with the game beginning to open up. It was the McNamee - Paynter combination that almost lead to a goal again on 80 minutes with Paynter's glancing header drifting wide.

Simon Cox was then replaced by Blair Sturrock with the Scottish striker making his first appearance of the pre-season campaign after missing the Austria tour.

Further chances came Swindon's way with Aljofree seeing his header fly wide after more good build-up on the Town flanks. Jamie Vincent's surging forward run earned a corner with five minutes to play although the resulting centre from McGovern was easily swallowed up.

Town Skipper Hasney Aljofree was replaced in the closing minutes by young defender Sean Morrison, with Aljofree suffering after clashing in an aerial challenge.

Portsmouth wrapped up the win on the stroke of full-time with a late effort from Danijel Subotic securing the victory, converting a deep cross from Ben Saha to wrap up the win..

Full-time: Swindon Town 1 Portsmouth 3

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Swindon Town: Peter Brezovan; Kevin Amankwaah, Patrick Kanyuka, Hasney Aljofree, Jamie Vincent; Jon-Paul McGovern, Chris Allen, Michael Timlin, Anthony McNamee; Simon Cox, Billy Paynter

Substitutes: Jack Smith, Phil Smith, Ben Joyce, Jerel Ifil, Michael Pook, Mark Marshall, Sean Morrison, Blair Sturrock

Portsmouth: David James, Lauren, Sol Campbell, Noe Pamarot, Hermann Hreidarsson, Arnold Mvuemba, Pedro Mendes, Papa Bouba Diop, Richard Hughes, Jermaine Defoe, Oj Koroma,

Substitutes: Peter Crouch, Martin Cranie, Sylvain Distin, Sean Davies, Ben Sahar, John Utaka