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Goals from Stephen Clemence and Stan Lazaridis earned Blues the 3 points, though the performance was again something of a mixed bag.
Following the midweek defeat at Blackpool, Steve Bruce reverted back to what appears to be his strongest team, with the same eleven starting today as those who did at Leeds last week. This meant Christophe Dugarry and Mikael Forssell returning up front, with Robbie Savage being restored in midfield. Stern John was made the fall guy for tuesday's embarrassment, and wasn't even on the bench, with Argentine Luciano Figueroa taking his place in the sixteen.
The game started as a scrappy affair with neither team being able to establish any pattern to their play. Dugarry and Forssell showed signs of linking up well, but at the other end it was Yakubu Ayegbeni and Teddy Sheringham who were looking the better pairing. David Dunn and Lazaridis both began to get themselves involved in the game a little more however, and the result was that Blues began to get on top, culminating in Clemence's 20th minute opener.
Referee Steve Bennett awarded a free-kick (ironically Clemence disputed the decision claiming that the advantage should have been allowed) which Lazaridis took from the right hand side. The Australian winger whipped the ball towards the far post. The cross evaded everyone, except Clemence who prodded the ball home from close range.
Blues could have been 3-0 up by the half hour point, but both Dunn and Dugarry squared balls across goal just behind Lazaridis who had made runs towards goal rather than holding back. At the other end the promising Matt Taylor crossed with so much power that Sheringham couldn't steer the ball home, whilst Ayegbeni had a goal disallowed after he was adjudged to be offside from Sheringham's ball.
Blues scored the crucial second goal five minutes into the second half, with a role reversal of the first goal - this time Clemence supplying Lazaridis. The former Spurs man's ball over the defence caught the Pompey backline out and Lazaridis was able to finish well past the advancing Shaka Hislop.
From this point on Blues sat back and soaked up Portsmouth's pressure and tried to hit them on the break. Sheringham hit the post for the visitors, who threw on Jason Roberts to try and aid them in their hunt for a goal. Another loanee, Alexei Smertin, also forced Maik Taylor into a good save, as did Steve Stone with a header. Blues still went close through Forssell and Dunn late on, however, as they countered well, whilst Figueroa was given his Premier League debut.
At times Blues played some good attacking football, mainly through Lazaridis. However they won't be happy with how much possession they afforded to Portsmouth late on, and that so much Blues possession was squandered so easily. Kenny Cunningham and Matthew Upson were both immense at the back (keeping a fifth clean sheet in six games - plus Cunningham missed the one game where goals were shipped), but further forwards a few things need to be improved before Blues put their unbeaten record on the line at Old Trafford.
PLAYER RATINGS:
Taylor - Sound
Johnson - Highly assured display
Clapham - Still struggling
Upson - Excellent
Cunningham - Seemingly gets better game by game; magnificent
Dunn - Quieter than usual
Lazaridis - Superb
Savage - Influential
Clemence - Good all-round performance
Dugarry - In and out of the game
Forssell - Generally subdued but does come alive in front of goal
SUBS:
Cisse - Worked hard
Tebily - Restricted Portsmouth's late pressure
Figueroa - Cameo appearance, but ran hard