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Match Report
Portsmouth v Southampton 24 April 2005
Pompey nightmare for Redknapp
Portsmouth 4 - 1 Southampton
Portsmouth gave former manager Harry Redknapp a nightmare return to Fratton Park following their 4-1 thrashing of arch-rivals Southampton.
A Yakubu Aiyegbeni penalty, Arjan De Zeeuw effort and a brace from Tresor Lomana Lua Lua stunned their South Coast rivals in the Sunday lunchtime kick-off.
Despite a Henri Camara fine goal in a frantic first half hour, Southampton's woeful defending proved their undoing in humiliating fashion.
The Saints suffered an injury setback in the warm-up when striker Peter Crouch needed to be replaced in Redknapp's starting XI by Camara after breaking down with a hamstring problem.
Pompey boss Alain Perrin, meanwhile, brought back Yakubu after two matches while Andy Griffin replaced Aliou Cisse at right back.
Under a security escort, Redknapp was the last man to exit the Fratton Park tunnel before kick-off, where he was met by a predictable chorus of boos from the Pompey supporters, as the intensity of Sunday's derby provided an electric atmosphere.
Yet, even the home supporters could not have anticipated the events of the first 27 minutes, as Pompey stormed out to a three-goal lead.
Perrin's side took less than two minutes to create problems in the Southampton backline, as Gary O'Neil's long ball forward found Lua Lua before the striker got a step on Claus Lundekvam.
Antti Niemi rushed out to close down the former Newcastle United man, but the Finland international mis-timed his challenge and referee Steve Dunn had little choice but to award a penalty.
Yakubu stepped up to beat Niemi with his right foot spot kick and give the home side an excellent start after four minutes.
Pompey kept pressing their Hampshire rivals and Dejan Stefanovic threatened Niemi's goal by knocking Patrik Berger's low cross from the right over the bar from close range after the Czech midfielder played a short corner with Lua Lua.
The home side seemed content to use their pace up front to hit Saints on the break and Lua Lua soon forced Niemi into a fine save with a right foot strike after surging forward in possession from the halfway line.
Portsmouth were superb at this stage and they confirmed their dominance with a second goal on 17 minutes, as an unmarked De Zeeuw headed Berger's left footed free kick from the right home at the far post after Niemi failed to make a challenge for the ball.
It was a disastrous start for Southampton, but the visitors soon pulled a goal back, as Camara latched onto a long clearance forward.
The on-loan Wolves striker eluded De Zeeuw's challenge on the edge of the box before hitting a fine right foot strike across the face of goal and past Pompey goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown for 2-1.
The goal looked to have made it a contest, but Pompey restored their two-goal lead two minutes later after a calamitous goalkeeping decision by Niemi.
Berger's fine ball forward found Lua Lua in between two Saints defenders and favourite to win possession.
In an attempt to clear, Niemi rushed out of his box, but the former Hearts custodian made a mess of his intervention and Lua Lua brilliantly swung his right foot to strike the ball into an empty net for 3-1.
Pompey fans were in dreamland at this stage and Lua Lua was causing Southampton's backline to have nightmares.
His fine performance was soon confirmed with his second goal in five minutes, as another Pompey break had Saints in trouble when Yakubu's pass to Stone saw the ball roll into the path of Lua Lua.
With defenders in front of him, the African teed up his right foot from just outside the area and his sublime strike went off the inside of the post and into the net past a frozen Niemi for 4-1.
It was a stunning scoreline and Lua Lua was an instant Pompey hero, but he was soon unable to continue playing after picking up a suspected hamstring problem and he had to be replaced by Diomansy Kamara a minute later.
The shock of being 4-1 down did not faze Southampton and they should have pulled another goal back, but Kevin Phillips failed to hit the target with a near post header from Jamie Redknapp's cross from the right while Lundekvam flashed his cross right across the face of Ashdown's goal.
The half ended with Pompey creating more chances, with Niemi again needing to tip the ball over his crossbar from Berger's stinging left foot free kick from the right side of the box.
The Czech star then went close again with a left foot strike after winning the ball off Jamie Redknapp near the Southampton box while substitute Kamara squandered a close range effort by shooting high and wide.
The second half proved not to be as frantically paced as the first 45 minutes, with Pompey looking in control from the restart.
Just before the hour mark, Yakubu had a decent chance to score a fifth goal for the home side, but the Nigerian misplayed Kamara's pass on the edge of the box before hitting the near post side-netting.
Despite being three goals down, Southampton got forward and Ashdown needed to make a tremendous save from former team-mate Nigel Quashie, who nearly silenced the home fans' boos with a fine left foot swerving strike.
The Scotland international then received more jeers from the Portsmouth faithful after being wayward with another effort.
The home side then responded with efforts of their own, with O'Neil striking over the bar from the edge of the box.
Kamara then squandered two more chances for Pompey, with his second coming after a fine run into the Southampton box, where he eluded three opponents before striking woefully wide.
Just before the final whistle, Niemi needed to make two good saves from Andy Griffin and then Matthew Taylor to stop the scoreline from being even more embarrassing.
In the end, Pompey were full value for their victory on Sunday and are virtually sure of playing Premiership football next season, but Southampton remain at the foot of the table and in real danger of being relegated.
Report From 
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