Player ratings

Hart: Maybe could have done better for the goal? Good save from Davis late on. Distribution and organisation generally good. 6

Elano: Looked like a flair midfielder being played at full back. Given that he said this week "my strengths are not to tackle and compete for the ball" I'm not sure whether I believe stories that he often used to play right back for Santos. I know he can do it on Football Manager 2007, but that's not quite the same thing. He did as well as we could have hoped though with Krancjar, and kept the ball nicely going forward. Will be gutted to have been off the pitch when we got that late freekick! 7

Dunne: Comfortable until his injury. I don't imagine Defoe is the sort of striker he enjoys playing against but was pretty solid. Lucky not to give away a penalty. If his injury is serious, we could really do with Micah against Fulham. 7

Corluka: Relatively low key thanks to Portsmouth's 4-5-1 then 4-4-1 systems. May have wanted to attack more but did well marshalling the defence when he was alongside Ball, Williamson and Elano. Did let Krancjar slip past him in the second half, could have led to a goal. 7

Ball: Not quick or strong enough (Portsmouth must be the second most athletic team in the league behind Chelsea). Reliable when moved inside, and as captain ensured the players kept their heads when they could have panicked. 7

Fernandes: At times looked like he could have been overwhelmed by Muntari, Diop and Diarra, but just kept his head above water. Did not succeed in making the extra man count in midfield after the sending off, but that's not his only his fault. 6

Johnson: The perfect balance between busy and tidy - like Hamann in his Liverpool days. The match fitness seems almost fully back. Kept the ball well in the second half; very disciplined: no Hollywood balls or Stevie G give-and-gos. 8

Petrov: His monthly world class performance. Quick, clever, sharp: both out on the touchline and cutting inside. Lucky with the deflection for his first goal since November, but his performance deserved it. Didn't seem to mind Elano being in the opposite corner of the pitch such was his understanding with Ireland. 9

Ireland: Best performance ever. I'd previously been skeptical of his desire to play in the hole - his best game before today was in central midfield at Old Trafford. But his touch and vision today were Benarbian. His intuitive understanding of Petrov, Vassell and Benjani was extremely impressive. Please don't sell him to Sunderland! 10

Vassell: As well as he's played this year. Willing to work hard in the middle of the park, kept the ball better than he usually does. Should have scored another in the second half, but he's missed easier chances this year. 8

Benjani: Did everything asked of him. One of the few centre forwards able to physically compete with Distin and Campbell, and didn't give them a moment's rest. Did well to hassle James in the run up to Vassell's goal and on another day could have had two or three goals. I still think he's Mpenza Plus, but for now he's comfortably the best option. 9

Subs:

Williamson: Very tidy in defence and effective going forward. Silly tackle that got him booked though. 7

Geovanni: Good touch and short passing, but we knew that. Didn't get the chance to prove his unfitness. 7

Caicedo: The stick he's been getting on Bluemoon recently is absurd. Did ok. 6