Yebda breaks Pompey duck

Hassan Yebda scored the winning goal as Portsmouth finally picked up their first points of the season as they beat Wolves 1-0.

Gloom lifted as visitors earn their first league victory of the season

Hassan Yebda scored the winning goal as Portsmouth finally picked up their first points of the season as they beat Wolves 1-0. The on-loan Algerian midfielder's powerful header on 19 minutes proved the difference at Molineux in what was a vital three points for the struggling South Coast club who brought their seven-match losing streak to a welcome end. Paul Hart's side started the match brightly and were rewarded for their endeavour when Yebda, on his first start for the club, ghosted into the Wolves penalty area to power home Kevin-Prince Boateng's accurate cross. The visitors continued to boss the opening period, but were nearly pegged back in first-half stoppage time before Tal Ben-Haim denied Kevin Doyle a certain goal with a crucial block. Wolves continued to press for an equaliser and should have had a penalty midway through the second-half after Marc Wilson used his arm to block half-time substitute Michael Kightly's cross in the box, but referee Howard Webb was unsighted and failed to give the decision. And Mick McCarthy's side were left to rue that and a number of other contentious decisions as they became the first side to relinquish points to Hart's Pompey.

Controversy

It was a perfect pick me up after a turbulent week for the 2008 FA Cup winners when their players were not paid on time despite hospitalised new owner Sulaiman Al-Fahim's plans for a £50 million cash injection. They also went into the game on the back of the worst top-flight sequence of results at the start of a campaign since Manchester United in 1930. But Pompey deserved their first success of the campaign and Wolves boss McCarthy's claim his side were facing "their most dangerous game of the season" proved well founded. Wolves struggled to find any rhythm despite the promptings of Matt Jarvis in the left wing. Wolves began brightly and a long throw from Greg Halford was met by Christophe Berra whose flicked header flew straight at Pompey keeper David James. But Portsmouth were not afraid to knock the ball around despite their disastrous start to the campaign. Boateng had their first worthwhile effort on goal, spinning to fire in a shot from a narrow angle which Wolves keeper Hennessey turned around the post. Jarvis brought the home fans to life with a powerful 50-yard run and he was allowed to surge into the box as the Pompey players backed off. But he would have been disappointed with his eventual low shot which James dealt with comfortably. At the other end Aruna Dindane was only just too high with a 25 yard shot on the turn and Tommy Smith had a low shot cleared off the line by Jarvis.

Goal

But after 20 minutes Portsmouth took the lead through Yebda. Boateng was the creator with a right-wing cross and Yebda was perfectly positioned to head past Hennessey into the corner of the net. Wolves were stunned and it needed a fine save from Hennessey to prevent Portsmouth from doubling their lead. Smith played the ball into the path of Aruna Dindane and his first time effort was turned aside by Hennessey at full stretch away to his right. The rebound broke to Smith who cut back inside to make a better angle but drilled his shot across the face of goal. Wolves began to get a foothold back in the match and a well worked free-kick move ended with Foley crossing to Doyle whose shot was deflected just wide. Wolves fans were becoming frustrated but James produced a fine reflex save to deny Keogh at point-blank range in first half injury-time and then Doyle's follow-up shot was blocked.

Second-half

McCarthy responded to his side's first half performance by bringing on last season's top scorer Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Kightly in place of Keogh and Foley. Portsmouth had the first chance of the second period when Dindane's back header from Smith's cross was saved by Hennessey. But Wolves looked more purposeful and Jarvis had a shot deflected wide after racing on to a pass from Doyle. From Jarvis's resulting corner, Halford got up well but could only direct his header wide of the far post. Kightly and O'Hara became the first players to be booked by Webb after a flare-up in the Portsmouth penalty area. Wolves looked to be denied a clear-cut penalty when television replays clearly indicated Pompey defender Wilson had handled a right-wing cross from Kightly. Boateng was yellow-carded for a foul on Henry and Halford curled the resulting free-kick just wide. James then beat out a spectacular free-kick from Halford three minutes from time in which the utility man scooped the ball into the air before thundering a drive at goal, while Ebanks-Blake ballooned the rebound over the bar.

Wolverhampton Wanderers	Team Statistics	Portsmouth
0	Goals	1
0	1st Half Goals	1
4	Shots on Target	4
6	Shots off Target	4
4	Blocked Shots	5
8	Corners	6
10	Fouls	13
2	Offsides	4
1	Yellow Cards	2
0	Red Cards	0
70.1	Passing Success	68
12	Tackles	13
75	Tackles Success	92.3
60.1	Possession	39.9
50.9	Territorial Advantage	49.1