19/08/06: Premiership Matchday #1: Pompey 3 Blackburn Rovers 0
Despite having a threadbare squad, a new look Pompey side took apart Blackburn in the scorching summer heat. David James commanded his area well, Sol Campbell instantly struck an excellent understanding with Linvoy Primus in the centre of the defence whilst Glen Johnson also had a good debut.
The honour of scoring Pompey's first goal of the season came to Svetoslav Todorov who tapped in a cross from Benjani after the Zimbabwe forward had made a mockery of Lucas Neill, who was sent off later in the game for a 2nd yellow card.
Kanu then came off the bench and immediately silenced his doubters by scoring with his first touch; a header from a Sean Davis cross. Kanu then scored another header with a similar cross by Gary O'Neil and could have had a hat-trick after Andy Todd was sent off for an apparent foul in the box. However, the Nigerian had his penalty saved by Brad Friedel and this result put Pompey top of the Premiership, if only for a day.
Top Of The League
After that opening day delight, Harry Redknapp re-signed Ognjen Koroman on loan from Terek Grozny. Yet the Serb still didn't get a chance to show us what he could do. Next up was a midweek trip to the City of Manchester Stadium...
23/08/06: Premiership Matchday #2: Manchester City 0 Pompey 0
This game was in complete contrast to the opening day match. The weather was dull and horrid, a reflection of the game itself which would have been instantly forgettable if not for one moment.
Ben Thatcher charged into Pedro Mendes with can what only be described as a deliberate flying elbow at full speed (click here to see a YouTube video of the incident). The result was an unconscious Mendes lying motionless on the floor having to be stretchered off the field and straight to hospital whilst referee Dermot Gallagher somehow deemed the offence only worthy of a yellow card.
To make matters worse, Gallagher denied us a nailed on penalty after a blatant handball by Micah Richards in the box late on. Pompey defended well to earn a point, but the whole game was about Mendes and the assault he suffered at the hands of a Man City thug, and it wouldn't be the last time this happened either.
Stalemate
Thatcher was internally suspended by Man City once the dust had settled and was eventually banned for 8 games by the FA, meaning he had got off lightly. Whilst Mendes was still recovering, Pompey travelled to the Riverside Stadium, one of our happy hunting grounds!
28/08/06: Premiership Matchday #3: Middlesbrough 0 Pompey 4
This game got off to the best possible start as Kanu tapped in from a corner early on as Pompey continued to create chances during the first half whilst keeping Boro at bay. Come the second half and it was soon 2-0 after Benjani headed in following more slack marking.
The best goal of the game came from a Boro attack as Pompey cleared and Kanu, who was on the halfway line, stuck out a leg and outpaced the entire Smoggy defence to lob Schwarzer for the third which was greeted by a crescendo of boos from the home support. Toddy then made the result even more embarrassing for those who stayed by chipping the Aussie 'keeper for the 4th in stoppage time to confirm what would be our best result of the season.
Boro Bogey
To cap off the month, Pompey finally signed Manuel Fernandes on a loan deal with a view to buy in January. What they failed to mention was the clause in his contract stating that if we played him in 3 consecutive games then we were obliged to buy him for £12 million!
On transfer deadline day Harry made a triple swoop; raiding feeder club Man City for Andrew Cole whilst also signing Niko Kranjcar from Hajduk Split and Roudolphe Douala on loan from Sporting Lisbon. There was a shock departure though, as Svetoslav Todorov was allowed to leave on loan to Wigan in a move that left a sour taste in the mouth of some Pompey fans and a move that Redknapp probably now regrets.
In the end we finished the month with 7 points, 7 goals scored and none conceded with the only bad thing being the injury to Pedro Mendes courtesy of Ben Thatcher. Things were certainly looking up...
Premiership Table after Matchday 3
1st: Manchester United - 9pts
2nd: Portsmouth - 7pts
3rd: Everton - 7pts
4th: Aston Villa - 7pts
5th: Chelsea - 6pts
6th: West Ham - 4pts