Double delight as Chelsea stay on track
Parker scored his first goal since his ÂŁ10million move from Charlton and Crespo chested in the Blues' second at Fratton Park after coming on as a substitute.
It was a good night all round for Chelsea after United slipped up 3-2 at home to Middlesbrough.
"I am very happy with the result at Manchester because we wanted to catch them up and now we want to catch Arsenal as well," said Ranieri, whose third-placed side are six points behind leaders Arsenal.
"I was at Arsenal last night and they are in very good condition but then so are Chelsea and we have two very big games with them coming up.
"I was not surprised that much by Manchester United's defeat. Middlesbrough are a strong side with a strong coach.
"Portsmouth are a strong side at home so it wasn't easy for us. We tried to play football but be direct as well. I am very happy that I am getting some of my injured players back."
Parker, who had to sit out a possible home debut against former club Charlton last Sunday under the terms of his transfer, blazed a spectacular opener after a smart exchange with Adrian Mutu which followed one of many penetrating raids by Jesper Gronkjaer.
And armed with that 15th minute lead, Chelsea gave every impression they would drive home their dominance.
But it was not until deep into the second period when Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink emerged from the bench in search of his 100th Premiership goal that they quelled Pompey's fire completely.
Hasselbaink, match-winner with a penalty last Sunday, lobbed a Frank Lampard pass against the bar with 12 minutes left and saw Argentinian Crespo, booked just three minutes earlier for diving and trying to win a penalty, chest the rebounding ball into an empty net for his ninth goal in 13 games for Chelsea.
For a long spell in the first half, Chelsea had Harry Redknapp's Premiership newcomers under the cosh.
Minus the injured Teddy Sheringham, Pompey were chasing shadows for a spell as Lampard, Parker and much-abused former Southampton star Wayne Bridge popped the ball around, finding space and feeding Gronkjaer at every opportunity.
And yet a blunder by stand-in goalkeeper Neil Sullivan should have gifted Portsmouth a 25th-minute equaliser only for Aiyegbeni Yakubu to miss a sitter.
Sullivan, keeping the jersey warm while Carlo Cudicini tries to recover from a groin injury ahead of two massive clashes with Arsenal over the next two weekends, failed to make a routine clearance, striking the ball against team-mate John Terry.
It fell perfectly into the stride of Yakubu but the muscular young Nigerian lost his cool and blasted high over the bar with the goal at his mercy.
Chelsea, with several of their star-studded squad back in action having had to do without a dozen injured or unavailable against Charlton, were at their most dangerous when breaking from deep positions.
Then stop-gap skipper Nigel Quashie had a go from the edge of the area, skewering a low effort across the face of goal.
And it was sheer tough luck on Patrik Berger when just after the half-hour, the former Liverpool star let fly with his left foot from 30 yards, beat Sullivan's dive but saw his shot bounce away off the foot of a post.
Sullivan redeemed himself for his earlier error when Yakubu's angled drive demanded a sharp save.
But the former Tottenham keeper was barely troubled in the second-half, thanks to the cool and gritty defending of John Terry and William Gallas and despite the pot-shots of newcomer Lomana LuaLua.
Portsmouth have now won only two of their last 12 games in the League and survival will remain a struggle but Chelsea are well set up now for their double date with the Gunners.
Hislop, Primus, De Zeeuw, Pasanen, Stefanovic, Quashie, Faye, Berger (LuaLua 56), Berkovic (Taylor 84), Mornar, Yakubu.
Sullivan, Melchiot, Gallas, Terry, Bridge, Gronkjaer, Parker (Cole 74), Lampard, Makelele, Mutu (Crespo 62), Gudjohnsen (Hasselbaink 71).
G Poll (Hertfordshire).
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
