JOB done by United — but how they made hard work of it.
After the fireworks at Anfield the previous evening this one never caught light.
For United, though, the most important aspect was they got the win after Liverpool had slipped up 24 hours earlier by only taking a point from the amazing 4-4 draw with Arsenal.
And Chelsea, who had an outside chance in the title race, added a little cherry on the top with their failure to beat Everton at Stamford Bridge.
The Premier League holders are now three points clear of Rafa Benitez’s men with a game in hand.
Now four victories and a draw from their last six matches will ensure the crown stays at Old Trafford for a third successive year.
Wayne Rooney’s strike — his 18th of the season — set United on their way and sub Michael Carrick made certain of victory by converting Paul Scholes’ brilliant pass.
It was Scholes’ 600th appearance for the club but he has probably forgotten it already. This game will certainly not live long in anyone’s memory.
Portsmouth did not show any sort of ambition and caretaker boss Paul Hart admitted afterwards it was a deliberate ploy to protect their goal difference in case they got sucked back into the relegation battle.
What a sad state of affairs. Pompey have performed so well under Hart to haul themselves six points away from the drop zone it was a shame they resorted to such a negative attitude.
Peter Crouch’s old Liverpool mates had been on the phone all day urging him to beat United and throw them a lifeline but clearly it was never going to happen.
United’s line-up had a much more sensible look about it compared to the reserve side which lost the FA Cup semi-final on penalties to Everton.
Manager Alex Ferguson had come in for a lot of criticism over his selection last Sunday. But he insisted it was the right decision to rest key players in order to maintain their assault on the Premier League and Champions League.
Back came the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, skipper Ryan Giggs, Rooney and Scholes and all was going perfectly as the opener came on nine minutes.
Brazilian midfield star Anderson, turned and launched a magnificent ball over the top of the visitors’ defence where Giggs was waiting.
The Welshman chested down neatly and crossed low for Rooney who made no mistake.
There were question marks about Giggs being offside but he was played on by left-back Hermann Hreidarsson over the other side of the pitch.
United lost right-back Gary Neville to an ankle injury but before John O’Shea could come on as his replacement, the home side almost scored again.
David James’ throw out caught Hayden Mullins unawares and Anderson nipped in but fired a 20-yard shot inches wide with the England No 1 stranded.
It has taken Anderson nearly two years to adapt to the English game since a £20million move from Porto.
But he is getting there and the fans are warming to him.
He was an important figure against his former club in the Champions League quarter-final success and here he was United’s best player.
When he was subbed the Old Trafford crowd, which had been so quiet all night, rose to applaud his contribution.
Then a Giggs corner on the half-hour picked out O’Shea whose header was cleared off the line by Nadir Belhadj.
Almost immediately, Giggs was played in by Rooney on the right and just had James to beat but the keeper spread his body well and blocked the shot.
It was complete domination from United and Giggs was running the game. Mind you he was not having much joy in front of goal.
Sol Campbell’s shocking header on halfway fell straight to Ronaldo who raced down the right and delivered a ball to the near post where, from four yards, Giggs managed to clip it wide.
The atmosphere was so flat, it seemed boredom had set in — almost 75,000 people sat in virtual silence.
Portsmouth at least found their way into the other half after the break but United were still comfortably in control.
A Giggs one-two with Rooney almost released the veteran again but James was down to hold on at the second attempt.
You could not imagine an equaliser coming but United needed another just for insurance purposes.
As the game wore on Fergie was out in his technical area looking a tad anxious, especially when Edwin van der Sar pushed out Glen Johnson’s low cross and also dived to his right to save Crouch’s header.
But Carrick made sure there would be no disasters as he ran on to Scholes slide-rule pass and fired into the far corner.
Hart admitted: “If we had started the first half the way we did the second we might have done better.
“In the second-half we took the game to them a bit more.
“We have been resolute the last nine games and frustrated United tonight. We need to continue playing the way we are and remain resolute.”
