Match Report

Portsmouth v Fulham 31st December 2005

O'Neil leads Pompey charge

Portsmouth 1 - 0 FulhamA difficult year on the South Coast ended with a tangible sense of optimism as Pompey's prodigal son Harry Redknapp led his side to a 1-0 win over Fulham.

Central to Redknapp's renewed mission statement is the need to restore Fratton Park to a fortress in the bid to escape relegation, and Gary O'Neil's first half strike had the Pompey faithful roaring as his strike proved crucial against The Cottagers.

After a year tainted by poor performances and farcical management soap operas, the manner of the victory against Chris Coleman's under-strength outfit will send a clear sign that Redknapp's charges are more than capable of pulling away from the relegation zone in the New Year.

Bouncing back superbly from a 4-0 mauling against Arsenal, Portsmouth took full advantage of an early injury blow to Fulham's Heidar Helguson as Tresor Lomana Lua Lua and O'Neil led an attacking onslaught.

However Fulham should have taken the lead after just seven minutes when Tomasz Radzinski somehow contrived to fire over from underneath the crossbar after panic in the Pompey ranks from an Ahmad Elrich corner.

Redknapp's desire to make Fratton Park a fortress once more after returning from his exodus at Southampton was assisted by the Pompey faithful, who were in full voice as they cajoled their side on.

O'Neil went desperately close as he burst forward from midfield, skipped past Zat Knight and fired his shot wide of the right-hand post, and Lua Lua saw an effort blocked as the South Coast effort looked to end a difficult year on a positive note.

However it was Chris Coleman's visitors who began to look the most likely through the strike partnership of Helguson and Brian McBride, and both hit-men went close with headers as they made their aerial presence count.

The in-form Icelandic international was desperately unlucky not to see another effort beat Sander Westerveld as he capitalised on a defensive error to take down a long ball, but his bright start was curtailed on 28 minutes when he had to be removed due to injury - with Collins John coming on.

Fulham's flow was disrupted and Pompey began to probe as Lua Lua saw his goal-bound free kick parried away by Cottagers keeper Tony Warner.

The Congolese striker then nearly took advantage of determined work from Matthew Taylor as he blazed a shot over, whilst French star Laurent Robert was less productive from a wayward free kick.

After 43 minutes the breakthrough that Fratton Park had been waiting for arrived, when Dario Silva found space on the right and clipped in a cross that Zat Knight failed to clear.

There was a suspicion of handball as O'Neil controlled the loose ball, but there was no doubt about the finish as the impressive young midfielder sent Redknapp into raptures and Pompey into half time in the ascendancy.

Fulham continued to struggle after the break and were sent another warning when Silva stole the ball off the feet of Lua Lua and smacked a shot wide, leaving the Uruguayan apologising to his strike partner.

After a penalty appeal was waved away, Pompey should have doubled their advantage when Robert's whipped cross bisected the Fulham defence - and former Luton man Taylor was inches away from connecting as he slid into the six-yard box.

Fulham were threatening intermittently, but wasted a good chance on the break when skipper Luis Boa Morte's pass proved too heavy for young striker John.

Pompey, desperate to claw themselves out of the relegation zone, were in need of a second goal for security and peace of mind, and again could have claimed it as O'Neil's clever pass saw Lua Lua beat the offside trap - although the former Newcastle star saw his low effort saved by Warner.

Taylor offered a speculative effort as Redknapp's side continued to dominate in front of a vociferous Fratton Park, and the livewire Lua Lua curled yet another chance just wide of the far post.

However Fulham almost grabbed an unlikely leveller as Knight got on the end of a free kick and saw the ball fall kindly for the home side, before Liam Rosenior fluffed a long range effort when he spotted Sander Westerveld out of position.

Redknapp's men continued to fight, and their play revolved around Lua Lua and O'Neil as the pair again combined before the striker rued a lack of poise as he blasted over.

The Fulham defence were being run ragged by the irrepressible Lua Lua as he appealed unsuccessfully for another penalty, but as the minutes wiled away Coleman's side looked more anxious and Legwinski fired a shot off-target.

However it was Pompey's day on New Year's Eve, and O'Neil nearly capped his fine performance with another goal as he flicked the ball wide, before curling an effort into the hands of Warner.

The Fulham shot stopper was visibly frustrated with the course of the game and grabbed hold of substitute Azar Karadas to earn both players a yellow card, but a minor unsavoury incident could not dim the enthusiasm of the home support as they saw their side move to within two points of 17th place.

Lua Lua was unable to convert yet another opening as he stumbled through on goal, and Pompey had to survive a nervy few closing minutes before claiming their much needed, and much deserved win.

Portsmouth	Team Name	Fulham
1	Goals	0
5	Shots on target ( Inc Goals )	3
9	Shots off Target (inc woodwork)	5
2	Blocked Shots	1
8	Corners Won	8
14	Total Fouls Conceded	8
5	Offsides	2
1	Yellow Cards	2
0	Red Cards	0
54%	Possession	46%

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