FOOTBALL: Magnificent Merson puts Portsmouth in front row

THE outstanding Paul Merson destroyed Watford with a breathtaking show that underlined Pompey's claims as genuine First Division promotion contenders.

Merson, a free transfer from Aston Villa, simply ran the show at Fratton Park yesterday as Harry Redknapp's lads secured their third win in four games.

The former England midfielder scored his first goal for Pompey, but was desperately unlucky not to finish with at least a hat-trick.

Watford's miserable afternoon was compounded late on when Denmark midfielder Allan Nielsen was sent off for arguing after picking up a yellow card for taking a dive just outside the box.

Modest Merson smiled afterwards: "This wasn't just down to me. We are playing well as a team and I can't emphasise that enough.

"We have some good players here who have gelled together very quickly and that is important.

"It is just as vital that we have got off to such a good start. We can't get promoted at this stage, but we could have thrown it away by now.

"If you get off to a bad start you always have an awful lot of catching up to do. Thankfully, that's not the case now."

Pompey's total domination was finally rewarded in the 42nd minute when Merson's clever pass picked out Jason Crowe down the right.

Crowe cut into the area only to be tripped by makeshift Watford defender Marcus Gayle, who produced a true striker's tackle just where it wasn't required.

Merson stepped up to thump the spot-kick beyond Watford's overworked keeper Alec Chamberlain.

Pompey doubled their lead in first-half injury-time, with Merson again at the helm. His chipped pass was headed out by the unfortunate Gayle straight to Svetoslav Todorov, who unleashed a vicious right- footed shot into the corner of the net.

Within two minutes of the restart Watford were a spent force after sheer persistence, first from Nigel Quashie and then by Todorov, provided the opening for Deon Burton to hammer home the third with a low, angled shot.

Merson, who earlier in the first half saw a clever lob headed off the line by Paul Robinson, showed that he can still produce a searing burst of speed when needed.

Midway through the second period he simply ran away from Watford's brittle defence before curling a shot beyond Chamberlain, only to see it bounce back off the bar.

Chamberlain then denied Merson on at least three other occasions with immaculate saves.

Watford boss Ray Lewington conceded: "If you have that sort of quality in the side and runners around him, then any team like this will take some stopping.

"Merson is so difficult to pick up and is very inventive."

But Lewington expressed his disappointment at his side's showing, adding: "Yes, I have had a go at them in the dressing room."MAN OF THE MATCH PAUL MERSON

A mercurial display from Pompey's cultured midfielder.

PORTSMOUTH: Hislop 7, Festa 8, Foxe 7, De Zeeuw 7, Crowe 8, Quashie 8, MERSON 9 (O'Neil 5), Hughes 7 (Robinson 5), Taylor 8, Burton 7 (Burchill 5), Todorov 7.

WATFORD: Chamberlain 7, Cox 6, Dyche 5, Gayle 5, Ardley 6 (Doyley 5), Nielsen 6, Hand 5 (Vernazza 5), Hyde 6, Robinson 6, Smith 5 (Glass 4), Webber 5.

MANAGER RATINGS: Redknapp 8; Lewington 6.

REFEREE: M Cooper 6.

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