Redknapp's inherited Portsmouth make capital gains over rivals

Saturday, 01, Apr 2006 07:19

Portsmouth's 3-1 victory at Fulham, their first successful visit to the capital in 11 attempts, gives them renewed optimism of beating the drop.

Gary O'Neill got the away side off to the best possible start, capitalising on bad defending from Wayne Bridge to score with Portsmouth's first attack of the game.

Frenchman Steed Malbranque restored parity after ten minutes with a fine effort. Cutting in from the left he raced towards the box and unleashed an unstoppable curling effort past from 25 yards past a helpless Dean Kiely.

But Congolese international Lomano Lua Lua put Portsmouth back into the lead on 25 minutes, showing pace and strength to leave Zat Knight trailing in his wake and slot home a cool finish. It was the acrobatic forward's fifth goal of the season, putting him top of Pompey's goal scoring charts.

Fulham had chances to get back into the match but a Brian McBride header could only rebound off the crossbar, while the Cottager's top scorer Collins John failed to take an easy opportunity, having rounded Fulham's goalkeeper Mark Crossley.

Portsmouth increased their lead after the hour mark when a Gary O'Neill shot took a deflection off Christanval's head and victory seemed assured once former Tottenham player Michael Brown was sent off with a straight red.

This was Portsmouth's third successive victory and puts them equal on 27 points with fourth from bottom West Bromwich Albion, who lost 2-0 at home to Liverpool.