Portsmouth 3 Derby County 1

HAT-TRICK hero Benjani and £5million new signing Lassana Diarra vindicated Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp's decision to reject the overtures of Newcastle as a six-match goal drought was finally ended at Fratton Park.

After going behind in four minutes Benjani scored his second treble of the season - including Pompey's first home league goal since September 29 - while Frenchman Diarra produced a debut performance of exciting promise.

The hosts were no better than seemingly-doomed Derby for half an hour but Benjani's talents gradually gave them the edge and victory was already a formality by the time he completed his hat-trick with a spectacular virtuoso effort after 54 minutes.

I want them to play like that.

They are good footballers and I want my players to play and that's why I bring them here,'' said Redknapp.

I said to to Benjani that we needed a big performance from him because we are missing the African Nations Cup boys (Sulley Muntari, Kanu, John Utaka and Papa Bouba Diop) and he did the business.

I still want to get an extra front man. I think the squad needs another front man, because we are short but they are not easy to find.

But you have to balance the books, you just can't expect them (the club) to keep pulling up money.'' Redknapp, who raised the cash for Diarra by selling Matt Taylor to Bolton, was delighted with his debutant's performance and expects him to get better.

He is a top player so to have him here, with Muntari, Diop and Utaka we will look quite strong,'' he added.

Zimbabwe striker Benjani, whose country failed to qualify for the African Nations Cup, now has 12 goals for the season.

It is a special feeling for a striker to get a hat-trick and even though I was substituted just before the end I came back onto the pitch again to make sure I got the match ball,'' he said.