Everton´s Saha hands Portsmouth seventh defeat

Louis Saha condemned Portsmouth to a seventh successive Premier League defeat as the France striker’s clinical finish gave Everton a 1-0 victory at Fratton Park on Saturday.

Saha’s seventh goal of the season in all competitions came following an error by Younes Kaboul that summed up Portsmouth’s dismal start to the campaign.

Paul Hart’s team had already made the worst opening to a Premier League season and their fortunes show no signs of improving despite a spirited second-half showing against Everton, who have now won four games in a row.

Everton striker Ayegbeni Yakubu was left on the bench as the Nigerian struggled with a groin strain picked up in the midweek League Cup win at Hull.

South African midfielder Steven Pienaar and Nigerian defender Joseph Yobo both passed fitness tests and were able to start.

Saha led the Everton assault from the start and drove a long-range effort just wide.

Then Pienaar crossed for Tim Cahill but the Australian glanced his header over the crossbar.

Portsmouth finally threatened when Tommy Smith threaded a perfectly-weighted pass to Aruna Dindane. The Ivory Coast forward pulled the trigger only for Tim Howard to produce a fine save.

But Everton were back in the ascendancy when Marouane Fellaini’s header forced David James to save.

Moyes’ team made the breakthrough in the 42nd minute. A high ball into the penalty area was completely misjudged by Kaboul and Saha pounced to lash past James from close range.

Pompey should have equalised five minutes into the second half but Tal Ben Haim headed Jamie O’Hara’s free-kick straight at Howard, who deflected the ball to safety via his shoulder.

Pienaar angered home fans when he stayed down after a challenge. He eventually picked himself up and returned to the action before slumping to the floor once again. He was eventually staken from the pitch on a stretcher.

Everton were pressing for a second and substitute Diniyar Bilyaletdinov floated a corner to the far post where Fellaini was denied by James and then Smith came to Pompey’s rescue by clearing Cahill’s effort off the line.

South Africa captain Aaron Mokoena rattled the crossbar as Pompey found some spark in the closing stages and they appeared to have snatched a point only for Leighton Baines to clear Hassan Yebda’s header off the line.

Boateng was denied by Howard four minutes into injury-time as Everton clung on.