LuaLua winner puts Pompey top

Portsmouth hit the top of the Premiership again - and kept their five-match clean-sheet record intact - with substitute Lomana LuaLua's 73rd-minute winner in a 1-0 victory at Charlton.

LuaLua, who has not started a competitive game since damaging an ankle in April last year, replaced last week's matchwinner, Benjani Mwaruwari, and had been on the field less than 10 minutes when he picked up a Sean Davis pass outside the area, powered past Matt Holland and beat Scott Carson with a low drive which the keeper should have saved.

It was another deserved success for Harry Redknapp's new-look side - who had just too much for Charlton, even though the London club made a cracking start.

Marcus Bent outjumped Glen Johnson to head against the bar and Darren Bent hit a post from the rebound as the visitors waited in vain for the ball to go out of play.

But Pompey came back strongly and there were cries for a penalty from their fans when Gary O'Neil's cross hit Amady Faye and bounced away for what referee Phil Down decided was a corner.

Talal El Kharkouri, Charlton's centre-half, put the first of two first-half headers just wide following corners and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink forced David James to touch his shot behind for another flag-kick.

Darren Bent shot straight at James, before Benjani saw a cute header fall just beyond a post and Kanu had two chances which could have settled the game.

First he forced Carson to make a full-length diving save in the 24th minute and then he headed over when unchallenged at the far post.

But Charlton always looked vulnerable to a breakaway - and even more so when LuaLua replaced Benjani after 64 minutes.

He immediately tested Carson with a low drive and nine minutes later struck the vital goal.