Football: THREE AND EASY

PORTSMOUTH boss Harry Redknapp reckons an 87-point haul will be good enough to earn his side automatic promotion to the Premiership.

The campaign is nowhere near half over, but the victory over struggling Stoke at Fratton Park yesterday took their tally beyond the halfway mark.

Redknapp's boys now have 45 points - seven clear at the top, and the manager said: "This is our best ever chance of going up.

"If we don't make it this season, then we never will!"

Redknapp admitted this was not vintage Pompey, but added: "Three goals and three more points isn't bad. Teams will always make it hard for you when they string five men across midfield. But in the end we broke them down and deserved the win."

After an indifferent first-half, Mark Burchill finally broke the deadlock in the 49th minute with a smart near post effort. Then Pompey had to wait until the final five minutes to slam home their advantage.

Substitute Vincent Pericard headed in the second from Svetoslav Todorov's cross then Todorov cleverly chipped home the third to complete a miserable afternoon for former Pompey boss Tony Pulis on his return as Stoke manager.

Bulgarian coach Plamen Markov was among another capacity crowd to watch Pompey striker Todorov ahead of Bulgaria's friendly against Spain on Wednesday. Todorov went desperately close to giving Pompey the lead after only six minutes, when he turned on the edge of the box to hit a volley that flashed just wide of keeper Neil Cutler's left hand post.

Tommy Mooney, on loan from Birmingham City, tested Shaka Hislop with an angled header before Pompey were nearly gifted an opener.

Paul Merson's speculative cross was knocked past Cutler by defender Wayne Thomas, who just managed to chase back and clear off the line.

Burchill, preferred to Pericard as Todorov's strike partner, appeared to be brought down by Wayne Thomas.

But referee Paul Taylor waved away penalty appeals.

Then Todorov again went close from Matthew Taylor's pass.

Pompey's lively Bulgarian was again at the thick of things just before the break when he dived in to meet Merson's free-kick, but his header drifted just off target.

But the frustrations of the opening half were soon forgotten as Pompey edged in front on 49 minutes as Burchill pounced for his fourth goal in as many starts.

Harper teased Clive Clarke wide on the right before whipping over a cross that Burchill volleyed home at the near post.

Despite the deficit, City still attempted to play constructive football, but were given a let-off when they were caught out by a lightning Pompey attack.

Harper fed Burchill, whose low cross was met by Todorov with a first time shot that crashed against the top of the bar and over.

That cross was the last of the action for Burchill who made way for Pericard after 65 minutes and then the fireworks really started.

Clearly settled in for the win Pericard and then Todorov found the net late on to confirm the dominance that Redknapp's team had enjoyed.

MAN OF THE MATCH MATTHEW TAYLOR

A constant threat down Pompey's left.

PORTSMOUTH: Hislop 6, Primus 6, De Zeeuw 7, Foxe 6, Harper 7, Diabate 6, Merson 7, Quashie 7, TAYLOR 8, Todorov 7, Burchill 6 (Pericard 6).

STOKE: Cutler 6, Thomas 6, Clarke 6, Handyside 7, Marteinsson 6, Henry 6, Gunnarsson 7, Gudjonsson 7, O'Connor 6, Hoekstra 7, Mooney 7.

MANAGER RATINGS: Redknapp 7; Pulis 6.

REFEREE: P Taylor 6.

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