Steed Malbranque scores again

Portsmouth continued their revival with a superb 3-1 victory over Fulham at Craven Cottage.

The Cottagers are normally a strong side on home soil, but were taken apart by Harry Redknapp's men thanks to an excellent first-half performance.

Gary O'Neil put the visitors ahead with the first attack of the game but Fulham pulled level within minutes through Steed Malbranque's stunner. Lomana Tresor Lua Lua put Pompey back in front before halftime and a fortunate third saw Portsmouth home.

To add insult to injury, Michael Brown was sent off for a nasty two-footed challenge with 15 minutes remaining, but fortunately Sean Davis got up from the challenge unscathed.

With the first attack of the game, Portsmouth were ahead thanks to O'Neil's close range strike.

Good work down the left from Benjani Mwaruwari allowed him to open up space to cross and O'Neil snuck in behind Wayne Bridge to finish past Mark Crossley in the Fulham goal.

The Portsmouth fans' celebrations were short-lived though as a Steed Malbranque's superb strike levelled the score inside ten minutes.

The Frenchman picked up the ball on the corner of the penalty area and, after cutting inside, unleashed a curling effort into the far corner that clipped off the inside of the post and in.

Harry Redknapp's men tried to restore their advantage straight away and Andres D'Alessandro produced two moments of magic to almost give Portsmouth the perfect response.

First, he shot from 18 yards that was well gathered by Crossley before somehow weaving his way to the by-line and pulling the ball across the face of goal only for O'Neil to divert the ball over the top from a matter of yards out.

From then on, it was the Lua Lua show as he took over the game with his trickery that dazzled the Fulham defensive unit.

Having wriggled his way into the box, the Congolese international shot from a tight angle that was only parried by Crossley before putting Pompey back in the ascendancy with a goal created through brute power.

Him and Zat Knight chased together for the ball and after shrugging off the giant centre back, Lua Lua raced through on goal and finished with aplomb, curling the ball with the outside of his right foot past an outstretched Crossley.

The hosts had a pair of chances before the break to level the score, both via Brain McBride.

Bridge's cross to the back post was met by a powerful header from the American but he saw the ball rattle off the underside of the crossbar and out before attempting an audacious volley from 25 yards out that went over the bar this time.

After the break, Fulham continued to press for the equaliser and Collins John was guilty of missing two great chances to levels things up.

Through one on one and with just Dean Kiely to beat, the Dutch striker dinked the ball over the on-rushing goalkeeper but saw the ball curl agonisingly wide of the post.

Just minutes later, he controlled well in the box and in one motion, turned and shot low only to be denied by a smart save low to his right by Kiely.

Normally at the bottom, nothing goes your way but Portsmouth's luck seems to be turning and that was proved when they pulled two goals in front.

O'Neil's speculative effort from outside the box took a wicked deflection off the head of substitute Philippe Christanval and looped over a helpless Crossley and into the top corner.

Fulham tried to make a game of it in the final 20 minutes but were dealt a further blow when midfielder Michael Brown was given a straight red card.

Sean Davis picked the ball up in midfield and as he turned was met by the flying feet of Brown, leaving referee Chris Foy with no option but to dismiss the former Spurs midfielder.

The ten-men of Fulham had the better of the chances in the latter stages and Heidar Helguson missed two glorious chances to at least get one back.

The Icelander shot over from close range but then should have scored with another chance seconds later.

With Kiely out of his goal, Helguson picked the ball up but instead of shooting straight away, he tried to compose himself and Andy O'Brien got back to deflect the ball wide.

Portsmouth survived the late scares to take all three points back to Fratton Park and continue to close in on those hovering above the relegation zone.

Fulham manager Chris Coleman:
"I could see this display coming. We need to be at it straight away or else we're climbing mountains.

"We got back in it with a great goal by Steed Malbranque but then let them have another one from a throw-in.

"I'm very disappointed for us all. We beat Chelsea, drew at Villa but then we got over-excited and lost this one."

Fulham Crossley, Volz, Knight, Pearce (Christanval 34),Bridge, Malbranque, Pembridge (Radzinski 72), Brown, Boa Morte,McBride, John (Helguson 66).
Subs Not Used: Warner, Rosenior.

Sent Off: Brown (74).

Booked: Malbranque, Helguson.

Goals: Malbranque 10.

Portsmouth Kiely, Priske, O'Brien, Primus, Taylor,D'Alessandro (Stefanovic 66), Davis, Pedro Mendes, O'Neil,Mwaruwari (Todorov 69), LuaLua (Karadas 89).
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Routledge.

Booked: O'Neil, Pedro Mendes.

Goals: O'Neil 1, LuaLua 24, O'Neil 62.

Att: 22,322

Ref: C Foy (Merseyside).