Fletcher earns Man Utd first win of season
Darren Fletcher scores Manchester United's only goal in 1-0 win over Portsmouth
Monday, 25, Aug 2008 10:27
Manchester United got their first victory of the new season with a 1-0 victory over Portsmouth at Fratton Park.
Darren Fletcher got the only goal of the game when he scrambled a Patrice Evra cross into the back of the net.
Television replays were inconclusive as to whether the final touch came off Fletcher or Sol Campbell, but the Scot claimed the finishing touch.
Sir Alex Ferguson's side were well worth their victory and should have been two-up when Wayne Rooney wrongly had a goal disallowed for offside.
Rooney had the first chance of the game when he fired straight at David James in the Portsmouth goal with just three minutes on the clock.
James saved again from a Paul Scholes free-kick after 17 minutes, while it took a last-ditch tackle by Evra to stop Peter Crouch from opening the scoring minutes later. From the resulting corner, the unmarked Younes Kaboul headed wide.
Fletcher broke the deadlock after 32 minutes and it took a vital interception from Distin on Rooney to stop them doubling it shortly after half-time.
While the visitors were dominant, they couldn't add the second which would have killed the game, which highlighted United's need for another striker.
Portsmouth had late periods of pressure but couldn't seriously threaten Edwin Van der Sar in the United goal.
Ferguson will be delighted to get the win, with both Liverpool and Chelsea winning both their opening games, while Portsmouth now have no goals and no points from their first two matches.