Fans turn as Fulham fail at home again

LAWRIE SANCHEZ and his Fulham team left Craven Cottage with the jeers of the crowd ringing in their ears after Portsmouth’s smash-and-grab win sent them spiralling into the bottom three.

Benjani Mwaruwari and Hermann Hreidarsson’s deflected strikes early in the second half did the damage as Pompey moved up to fifth.

Sanchez said: “Obviously, I can understand the fans’ frustration. They have seen us play well in the first half — and they have seen us play some good stuff this season but number one for them is results and we are just not getting them.

“The perfect way is getting wins and entertaining along the way but for those fans who pay good money, entertaining comes second.”

After Pompey’s goals in a two-minute spell, Fulham could find no way back into a match they had dominated in the first 45 minutes.

They are left still looking for their second win of the season, having beaten Bolton in August.

Sanchez said: “I was pleased with some of our players and not so much others but I don’t feel let down. The investment we’ve made here is for the longer term and two wins could still put us back in the middle of the table.

“We’ve had some tough away matches against the likes of Arsenal, Aston Villa and Chelsea and today we played a team who are definitely going to be in the running for a European place.

“They are strong and muscular and once they got ahead it was a tough task for us to get back. Both goals were deflected but to be fair a goal is a goal. It is stopping people getting the shots in which matters and we didn’t do that.”

Pompey boss Harry Redknapp saluted goal hero Benjani who followed up last week’s hat-trick against Reading with the vital opening strike as Pompey secured a fourth successive win in all competitions.

Redknapp said: “Benji is a very good player, always has been. The season we made a great escape from relegation he was superb with his work rate and the fans idolised him even though he scored only a very few goals.

“Kanu has done really well for us, too, but he’s going to have to try and get his place back now after injury.

“We’re on a good little run and it’s been a fantastic start to the season. We have just got to keep going.”

FULHAM: Keller 6, Baird 6 (Murphy 60, 5), Bocanegra 6, Hughes 6, Konchesky 5, Davies 6, Davis 6, Smertin 5 (Ki-Hyeon 61, 5), Bouazza 7, Healy 5 (Kamara 61, 6), Dempsey 6. Subs Not Used: Niemi, Stefanovic.

PORTSMOUTH: James 6, Johnson 6, Distin 6, Campbell 7, Hreidarsson 7 (Pamarot 87, 5), Muntari 6, Kranjcar 6, Davis 6, Diop 6 (Pedro Mendes 76, 6), Utaka 6, Mwaruwari 8. Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Taylor, Nugent.

REFEREE: Howard Webb (S Yorkshire) 6 An assured display in an undemanding encounter.

MATCH RATING: ** Fulham will feel aggrieved but Portsmouth were ruthless with their finishing.