Portsmouth	0 - 1	Tottenham
Booked Pedro Mendes 29 Kranjcar 74 Distin 90	Half Time ( 0 - 0 )	Scorers Berbatov 81  Booked Malbranque 62 Berbatov 82

A late goal from Dimitar Berbatov gave Spurs all three points as Pompey failed to find the net for the fourth time in their last five games.

Portsmouth under-performed with a weakened attack after Kanu missed the game to attend his father’s funeral. And they failed to impress for most of the contest as Tottenham thoroughly deserved their victory over the course of the game.

The hosts’ home record spoke for itself as they haven’t scored at Fratton Park since their 7-4 drubbing of Reading in September. But they were given some early hope as a make-shift Spurs defence looked vulnerable as Pompey attacked.

Errors by Younes Kaboul and Jermaine Jenas suggested the game could be another one full of goals, but Portsmouth weren’t strong enough to take advantage of them and they were too weak at the back themselves.

Berbatov was the early threat for the visitors as they gained confidence moving forward and the Bulgarian missed two good chances before Darren Bent curled an effort over from about 20 yards.

Pompey surged forward on the break and Spurs were aware of Muntari after his scorching brace last weekend. But it was Tottenham who took control and David Jams parried from Berbatov as they took the initiative again.

Both sides could then have taken the lead with a deflection. First, Niko Kranjcar somehow didn’t manage to deflect the ball past Robinson as the keeper gathered Johnson’s cross. Then Muntari’s run and ball for Diop was deflected over the bar by a defender.

The hosts then dominated the remainder of the half but still failed to do enough in the final third to create the goal needed before the break.

Harry Redknapp changed to a more conventional 4-4-2 formation for the second-half after playing with a solitary striker before the interval. But it still did little to alter the impact of the team as Tottenham looked far too comfortable away from home.

Yet Pompey still appeared to be fairly solid at the back, as James again saved from Bent with Spurs finding it difficult to create many clear-cut chances.

David Nugent came on for the hosts but he failed to impress as Berbatov continued to look dangerous at the other end. Some poor control meant he wasn’t able to give his side the lead with 20 minutes left after he did the hard work by rounding David James.

But 10 minutes from the end he scored what proved to be the only goal of the game after some good work by Lennon allowed him to net unmarked at the far post.

It could’ve been more comfortable for Spurs if substitute Jermaine Defoe’s shot hadn’t clipped the outside of the post. But at the final whistle it was Pompey’s lack of firepower which meant that Berbatov’s first Premiership goal for nine games was the worthy winner.

Defeat for Portsmouth sees them slip out of the top six after Everton beat West Ham for the second time in a week. It may only have been their third Premiership loss of the season but it was a disappointing result and performance at Fratton Park.

Maximum points for Spurs gives them a five point breathing space from the relegation zone and edges them closer to a mid-table position. Their first away victory and clean sheet of the season shows that they appear to be getting their confidence back after such a poor start to the season


Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Pamarot (Hreidarsson 74), Utaka, Diop, Pedro Mendes (Davis 46), Muntari (Nugent 65), Kranjcar, Mwaruwari.

Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Taylor.

Tottenham: Robinson, Chimbonda, Zokora, Kaboul, Lee, Lennon (Tainio 86), Jenas, Boateng (O'Hara 78), Malbranque, Berbatov, Bent (Defoe 74).

Subs Not Used: Cerny, Stalteri

Att: 20,520

Ref: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).

By Ben Hughes