Benji begins to blossom at Pompey

HARRY REDKNAPP has tipped Benjani Mwaruwari to become a Fratton Park cult hero after he raced to the top of the Premier League scoring charts at the expense of struggling Wigan.

The Zimbabwean forward struck his fourth goal in three games with just nine minutes remaining at the JJB Stadium to set Pompey on their way to their fourth successive victory.

Glen Johnson added a late second for the visitors and Redknapp hailed his team’s determination, paying particular attention to Benjani who had struggled on his initial introduction to Premier League football.

Redknapp said: “Benji’s scoring goals now which is great. He’s always worked his socks off and done brilliantly for us, but he’s never really scored too many – and now he can’t stop scoring.

“Ever since I bought him he’s done an unbelievable job for us. In his first season he couldn’t score a goal for 15 games, but he never stopped working, and last season he weighed in with six.

“The fans love him because he is a fantastic fellow and he just loves playing the game. He’s always got a smile on his face and now he’s adding goals to his play, which is great for him.”

Victory consolidated Pompey’s position in fifth place in the table, although Redknapp refused to target a European place.

He added: “You look at the top four and you know they will be the same again. Then there’s teams like Tottenham, Newcastle, Aston Villa and Everton. That is a difficult group so if we can finish in the top half I’d be delighted.”

In contrast, Wigan boss Chris Hutchings will have different targets in mind. His side have faded badly since the heady early days of the season when they topped the table after two matches. The Latics are now winless in six games and have failed to score in over five hours.

Benjani grabbed the decisive goal when he converted a Sulley Muntari cross, and Johnson’s low strike after running unhindered across the edge of the box wrapped up another bad day for Wigan.

DID YOU KNOW? Portsmouth have won their last three Premier League away games after winning only one of the previous 19.

WIGAN ATHLETIC (4-4-2): Kirkland 5, Boyce 5, Granqvist 4, Bramble 5, Kilbane 5, Scharner 6, Brown 7, Landzaat 6, Koumas 5, Sibierski 4 (Aghahowa 52, 4), Bent 4.

Subs not used: Pollitt, Hall, Olembe, Skoko.

PORTSMOUTH (4-4-2): James 6, Johnson 6, Campbell 7, Distin 6, Hreidarsson 6, Utaka 6, Davis 6 (Mendes 77, 5), Diop 7, Kranjcar 6, Muntari, 7, Benjani 8.

Subs not used: Ashdown, Nugent, Taylor, Pamarot.

REFEREE: Peter Walton (Northamptonshire) 6. Five bookings may have seemed a little over the top in a match which never reached boiling point, but there were few complaints from the players.

MATCH RATING: ** Pompey are making a habit of winning ugly and this was another solid, if unspectacular, performance.