In treacherous conditions the game wasn't a display of sublime football but still contained plenty of chances. Chelsea came very close to sneaking a goal on a few occasions but it was Sean Davis who had the best chance after his long range effort was stunningly saved by Petr Cech who must have seen the ball extremely late.
The second half was the more memorable of the two as Pompey wasted two great chances to take the lead despite sitting back for most of the game.
David Nugent was through on goal only to shoot too close to Cech but Fratton Park was expecting a goal when Crouch broke down the wing and crossed for Kranjcar in the box. The Croat's first touch was good but his second was abysmal as he struck well wide of the goal when he really should have scored.
You had a feeling that Pompey would be punished for those misses and that punishment arrived when diving Didier Drogba was left unmarked in the box as the ball broke to him off Sol Campbell and allowed him to pick his spot and score the winning goal.
The home side did apply plenty of late pressure at the end of the game including sending David James up for a corner but Chelsea escaped with the victory much to Pompey fans' frustration who had salt rubbed in the wounds by making their way home in the pouring hail.
I'm not too disheartened by the performance. The defence were well organised for the most part, the midfield looked up for the fight with Kranjcar playing his best football in the hole. Peter Crouch held the ball up well but I'm still not sure why Nugent is playing on the wing when we have two natural wingers on the bench in Utaka and Belhadj.
It's results that matter though and Pompey fans will be watching nervously as the results pour in from the other Premier League games. Middlesbrough away in eleven days is going to be a titanic game in our season for sure.
Pompey Player Ratings
David James: 6 - Handled himself well for the most part in horrible conditions.
Glen Johnson: 7 - Did well against his former club.
Sol Campbell: 7 - Rock solid for the most part.
Sylvain Distin: 7 - Getting back to his best.
Hermann Hreidarsson: 7 - Stood up well.
Jermaine Pennant: 6 - Lively but should have ran at Bosingwa more often.
Sean Davis: 7 - Battled away again.
Hayden Mullins: 6 - Worked hard.
Niko Kranjcar: 7 - Excelled in the hole but should have buried that chance.
David Nugent: 6 - Should have scored but needs to play alongside Crouch and not on the wing.
Peter Crouch: 7 - Held the ball up very well.
Substitutes
Asmir Begovic
Younes Kaboul
Noe Pamarot
Nadir Belhadj
Angelos Basinas
John Utaka (Pennant 70): 6 - Didn't change the game.
Kanu