Portsmouth 2 Newcastle 1

Newcastle United failed to extend their unbeaten run to three games when they crashed to defeat at Portsmouth.

Goals by Benjani (7m) and Matthew Taylor (59) sealed the victory at Fratton Park with Emre replying from the penalty spot for the Magpies.

Pompey totally dominated the opening period and could have had several goals as they carved the visitors open at will.

Benjani took advantage of Steven Taylor trodding on the ball 18 yards in after the impressive Matthew Taylor threaded the ball through. The Zimbabwe striker made no mistake to score past Steve Harper .

The home side continued to have the upper hand but couldn't turn their possesion in to goals.

Kanu was guiltier than most, although he looked to have been unfortunate not to score when a long-range shot rattled the crossbar and bounced over the line ten minutes later.

The irony of all this is that Obafemi Martins could have opened the scoring after just 47 seconds when he stung the hands of David James. From the resulting corner Craig Moore blasted woefully wide when it was easier to score.

United had an opportunity to level on the stroke of half-time when Lauren somehow managed to scoop the ball off the line from Martins' thunderous header from James Milner's corner.

Newcastle had another chance to equalise immediately after the break when Emre fed Martins inside the box, but the Nigerian snatched at the chance and it went wide.

Harry Redknapp's side went further ahead with a fantastic 30-yard strike from the spectacular goalscorer Taylor out of nothing.The Magpies pulled a goal back when Emre scored from the spot following Stefanovic's foul on Milner. The Pompey defender had already been booked and should have received a red card for the blatant foul.Martins then wasted yet another gilt-edged chance eight minutes from the end following a gaff from Linvoy Primus and he blasted straight at David James.

United pressed and their second half showing was a vast improvement of the first offering but yet again they paid for hapless defending and profligacy in front of goal.