Hislop’s Portsmouth edge Tottenham

LONDON: Jamaica international Ricardo Fuller came on as a second-half substitute and celebrated a fine 1-0 win for Portsmouth over Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premiership yesterday. Aiyegbeni Yakubu trumped Tottenham with a 62nd-minute header for his fifth goal of the season to take away Jacques Santini’s side’s tag of boasting the best defensive record away in the league.  The Nigerian’s header was only the second goal against Spurs on their travels this season and it came after Pompey manager Harry Redknapp gambled on fielding three strikers at Fratton Park.  He moved Lomana LuaLua out to the right wing to accommodate substitute Fuller as Yakubu’s sidekick in the middle.

After a goalless first half, Pompey went for broke by sending on Fuller —  for Eyal Berkovic in the 55th minute —  to form a three-pronged attack with Yakubu and LuaLua, and the Reggae Boy almost immediately set up a goal for Berger, who made space from the Jamaican’s clever touch but fired wide. In the 62nd minute LuaLua, despite his admitted dislike for a wide role, provided the perfect cross for Yakubu to out-jump the big Tottenham defenders and head home in front of 20,121 delighted fans at Fratton Park. Trinidadian Shaka Hislop also had a solid match in goal for Portsmouth.