Everton claimed a third straight win in The Premiership as a goal from Leon Osman was enough to beat new-look Portsmouth 1-0 at Fratton Park.
The midfielder's deflected effort on 31 minutes was enough to settle a dour contest and helps move The Toffees further clear of the drop zone.
The watching Alexandre Gaydamak must be wondering if his money was well spent after seeing Pompey slip to a 13th Premiership defeat that leaves them rooted in the bottom three.
Manager Harry Redknapp fielded four of the new faces drafted in with the help of the multi-millionaire's money as former Tottenham trio Sean Davies, Pedro Mendes and Noe Pamarot were joined in the starting XI by fellow new boy Benjani Mwaruwari.
It was Benjani's strike partner Tresor Lomana Lua Lua who had Pompey's best chance of the opening 45 minutes when he tested Nigel Martyn from a tight angle with a powerful drive.
That effort at goal came in a bright opening for Portsmouth but they soon faded as Everton's five-man midfield stifled them into submission.
With the two sides managing just 30 goals between them in the league this season, a high-scoring classic was never on the cards on the South Coast.
Chances were few and far between on a poor playing surface and it was no surprise that a single strike was enough to win the game, although Everton's goal did come in somewhat fortunate circumstances.
Kevin Kilbane's flick-on from a free kick caused chaos in the home defence and allowed Osman to ghost in and scuff the ball goalwards, although Andy O'Brien got the final touch to deflect the ball past Jamie Ashdown .
The former Newcastle defender may well end up getting credited with the goal although Osman was quick to claim it after already missing one great chance in the match when he headed over from six-yards out in the opening minute.
That early opportunity, set up by Kilbane down the left, was a rare highlight in a first half devoid of goalscoring opportunities.
Redknapp would have had plenty to say during his team talk at the break, yet his words failed to inspire a fight back as the closest his side came to scoring was when Richard Hughes deflected a corner just over the top of his own bar in the opening minute of the second half .
Debutant Davis fired over from just inside the area in a rare moment of concern for Martyn, who was largely a spectator for 90 minutes.
Portsmouth piled bodies forward in the final few minutes in desperation, but their direct approach failed to trouble the impressive pairing of Joseph Yobo and Matteo Ferrari at the heart of Everton's defence as David Moyes' troops held out for a hard-fought win
