MARC Pugh came off the bench to head Cherries into the fifth round of the FA Cup for only the fourth time in the club’s history.

Pugh netted seven minutes from time to complete a second-half comeback as Eddie Howe’s team booked their place in tomorrow’s draw.

WATCH: Returning Tommy Elphick reacts to FA Cup win at Portsmouth

LIVE: The match as it happened

GALLERY: Click to see our gallery of pictures from the game

Bournemouth Echo:

Gary Roberts, Cherries’ nemesis from the 2011 play-off semi-final defeat by Huddersfield, had given Pompey the lead on the stroke of half-time.

But Josh King, who netted an FA Cup hat-trick for Blackburn against Stoke last season, levelled for Cherries with a header in the 70th minute before Pugh popped up with the winner.

Inspirational captain Tommy Elphick made his long-awaited return from injury as boss Eddie Howe made no fewer than 10 changes to the Cherries starting line-up.

Elphick, who had been sidelined for almost five months, partnered ex-Pompey favourite Sylvain Distin at the heart of the Cherries defence.

Adam Smith was the only player to start who had featured in Cherries’ 1-1 draw at Sunderland in the Premier League seven days previously.

Recent loan signing Juan Iturbe from Roma was also handed his full debut having made a substitute appearance against West Ham earlier this month.

Howe also welcomed back from injury striker Josh King, while first-year professional Jack Simpson was named among the Cherries substitutes.

Bournemouth Echo:

Distin did well to prevent Marc McNulty from fashioning an early chance, while Baily Cargill cut out a dangerous low cross from Kyle Bennett.

Cherries survived a flimsy penalty appeal after a Ben Davies corner had bounced awkwardly in front of King before Adam Federici dived to his right to push a stinging drive from McNulty past the post.

Pompey defender Christian Burgess was booked for a clumsy challenge on Glenn Murray with Eunan O’Kane’s resultant free-kick almost creeping in at the far post.

Cherries went close to drawing first blood through Iturbe after 28 minutes, the Argentinean’s shot from the edge of the box tipped on to the post by Pompey’s on-loan goalkeeper Ryan Fulton.

Bournemouth Echo:

Pompey took the lead through Roberts on the stroke of half-time, the experienced campaigner showing all his guile to finish coolly from close range following a move down the right involving Bennett and McNulty.

Pompey appealed in vain for a penalty at the start of the second half after defender Enda Stevens had gone to ground under a challenge by O’Kane, with referee Mike Dean unmoved.

Federici pouched a swerving free-kick from Ben Davies before Bennett slipped a lovely through ball to Roberts but he was only able to roll his effort from an acute angle across the face of the goalmouth.

A double substitution saw Murray and Iturbe replaced by Matt Ritchie and Marc Pugh after 62 minutes before Lewis Grabban blazed a presentable chance over the crossbar.

Cherries levelled with 20 minutes remaining when King’s clever flicked header from O’Kane’s free-kick into the near post flew past Fulton and nestled in the back of the net.

Bournemouth Echo:

Federici had to be on his toes to clutch Bennett’s free-kick as Pompey looked to regain the lead before Matt Clarke’s timely interception prevented Grabban from pulling the trigger.

Cherries took the lead when Pugh headed home from close range seven minutes from time, the winger following up to score after Fulton had saved from Grabban with the ball looping towards the far post.

Pompey: Fulton, Davies, Burgess (Webster, 62), Clarke, Stevens, Doyle, Close, Roberts (Evans, 62), McNulty, Bennett, McGurk (Tollitt, 76).

Unused subs: Naismith, Barton, Chaplin, Jones (g/k).

Booked: Burgess.

Cherries: Federici, Smith, Elphick (Francis, 75), Distin, Cargill, MacDonald, O’Kane, King, Murray (Ritchie, 62), Grabban, Iturbe (Pugh, 62).

Unused subs: Butcher, Simpson, Wakefield, Allsop (g/k.)

Booked: O’Kane.

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral).

Attendance: 18,901 (including 2,885 away supporters).

  • The draw for the fifth round will take place tomorrow following the fourth round clash between MK Dons and Chelsea. Cherries are ball number 13.