Portsmouth 0-1 Man Utd

Darren Fletcher's deflected first-half strike was enough to give Manchester United victory over Portsmouth.

Pompey went close after only 12 seconds when Papa Bouba Diop's shot whistled past the post, before Wayne Rooney shot straight at David James from 12 yards. Pompey's best efforts came after the break but Jerome Thomas and Papa Bouba Diop saw their shots saved comfortably.

United began to look dangerous down the flanks and from Patrice Evra's cross, Fletcher bundled in via Sol Campbell.

Portsmouth might have lacked any real cut and thrust but boss Harry Redknapp will take some consolation that their performance was better than the one that saw them thumped 4-0 by Chelsea in their opening game of the season last week. Redknapp brought in on-loan left-back Armand Traore in a move designed to shore up the defence.

But with United restoring striker Carlos Tevez and Anderson to their line-up, Pompey were always likely to be stretched.

Yet it was the hosts who almost struck first when Bouba Diop rode a challenge before cracking a shot from 15 yards which zipped off the wet turf and was inches wide of the post. Soon, though, United began to dictate the play, pulling Portsmouth - and particularly Bouba Diop - out of position. Wayne Rooney made space in the box but hit his shot straight at David James, and shortly after the England keeper kept out a swerving Paul Scholes free-kick.

United might have led 2-0 at the break, but Rooney fired a shot just wide after he had superbly made space with an excellent first touch and turn on the edge of the box. An hour of the game had been played before Portsmouth forced Edwin van der Sar into his first save, beating away substitute Thomas's vicious drive.

The slicker passing, more incisive movement and more dangerous play continued to come from United after the break, as it had in the opening 45 minutes.