Football: CLASS OF PORT: PORTSMOUTH ... 4 BRIGHTON ... 2

MATTHEW TAYLOR inspired Portsmouth to their best start to any season in more than 50 years as Brighton became the latest victims of Harry Redknapp's juggernaut outfit.

Taylor opened the scoring, then terrorised Albion with his speed down the left as Pompey came from the shock of falling behind to ensure they stayed top.

So four wins and a draw from their opening five games means they have begun a season better than any other at Fratton Park since the famous old club went on to win the First Division title way back in 1949.

Having worked so hard to secure their early lofty position, Redknapp's boys were clearly in no mood to throw away the honour of leading the table.

Even so this start must be beyond the wildest dreams of Redknapp, who thought it would take some time for his side to gel following the arrival of no fewer than 10 new faces.

There is little doubt that the boss pulled off a master stroke among his captures by persuading Paul Merson to quit the Aston Villa substitutes' bench in favour of regular first-team football at Fratton.

The move has reignited Merson's enthusiasm for the game as he again underlined yesterday while striding confidently around the park, cajoling his new teammates and mesmerising Albion with his passing.

But clearly Redknapp has also picked up a gem in Taylor, a pounds 700,000 signing from Luton, and already being tipped for future England honours. Yet the 20-year-old so nearly blotted his copy book late on with an off-the-ball scuffle with Albion striker Graham Barrett.

Barrett was sent off by referee Steve Bennett, but Taylor breathed a sigh of relief when only a yellow card was produced for his part in the dust up.

Clearly there is a belief at Pompey they can maintain this form and figure in the promotion battle. Even the bookies reckon they are capable of going up, having slashed their pre-season odds from 33-1 outsiders down to 9-2 third favourites.

Pompey were in front inside three minutes when Nigel Quashie and Merson combined to set Taylor free on the left, and he cut in before firing a low-angled shot past Andy Petterson.

But Brighton hit back. Danny Cullip produced a crisp left-footed shot to level on eight minutes, and then Paul Brooker capitalised on a poor back-pass from Richard Hughes to fire his side ahead.

Pompey looked rattled, but they soon regained their composure, thanks to Merson's experience, and he levelled from the spot on 25 minutes after Guy Butters wrestled Deon Burton in the box.

But Albion were behind again a minute before the break when Quashie's cross-field pass was turned back inside by Taylor for Svet Todorov to side-foot in close home.

Pompey underlined their superiority with a fourth on 52 minutes, Merson freeing Jason Crowe and his 25-yard, left-foot

curler easily beat Petterson. MAN OF THE MATCH MATTHEW TAYLOR A constant threat down the left. PORTSMOUTH: Hislop 7, Festa 7, Foxe 8, De Zeeuw 8, Crowe 8 (Harper 6), Quashie 8, Merson 8, Hughes 7, TAYLOR9 Todorov 8, Burton 7 (Burchill 6). BRIGHTON: Petterson 7, Pethick 6, Cullip 7, Butters 6, Watson 6, Oatway 6, Carpenter 6, Melton 6, Marney 7, Barrett 6 (Wilkinson 6), Brooker 7. MANAGER RATINGS: Redknapp 8; Hinshelwood 6. REFEREE: S Bennett 6.

Copyright 2002 MGN LTD
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.