Hermann Hreidarsson's first goal since 2009 earned Portsmouth a sixth straight win to keep their play-off push on track as Sheffield United lost again.
David Nugent and defender Greg Halford went close before Hreidarsson poked home after David Cotterill's corner.
He almost added a second before the end of a first half short on chances.
For the visitors, Stephen Quinn shot wide and Sam Vokes had two decent headers but the Blades' third straight loss leaves them six points adrift.
United have yet to win since manager Micky Adams took over in December, but went close early on when Ched Evans shot just over from 25 years on 10 minutes.
But the home side soon got up to speed and began to apply the pressure.
Nugent drew a good save from Steve Simonsen and former United player Halford fizzed a 35-yard free-kick just over the bar before Hreidarsson hit the target.
Cotterill, another ex-Blade, supplied the corner which was knocked down by Nugent and Hreidarsson put the ball into the roof of the net from close range.
Nugent and Dave Kitson both went close with angled shots early in the second half, before Quinn gave the visitors hope with his shot from the edge of the box.
Vokes' first chance was straight into the arms of goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown, and Bjorne Helge Riise set him up for another late on, but United could not find a vital goal to halt their worrying run of form.
Live text and stats
Saturday, 5 March 2011
Npower Championship
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Portsmouth
1-0
Sheff Utd
FT
(HT 1-0)
Hreidarsson 24
Portsmouth
01 Ashdown
02 Halford
05 De Laet
06 Hreidarsson
20 Ward (Kanu 70)
33 Rocha
08 Mullins
14 Hogg (Mokoena 70)
17 Cotterill (Dickinson 80)
10 Nugent
18 Kitson
Substitutes
37 Flahavan,
03 Dickinson,
04 Mokoena,
24 Ciftci,
36 Kilbey,
27 Kanu
Sheff Utd
01 Simonsen
03 Nosworthy (Bent 77)
06 Ertl
23 Collins
34 Lowton
08 Doyle (Vokes 71)
14 Williamson
28 Quinn
38 Riise
09 Evans
17 Cresswell (Bogdanovic 77)
Substitutes
25 Long,
20 Mattock,
22 Kozluk,
04 Montgomery,
10 Bogdanovic,
19 Vokes,
37 Bent
Ref: BoothAtt: 15,096
PORTSMOUTH
SHEFF UTD
Possession
Portsmouth51%
Sheff Utd49%
Attempts on target
Portsmouth4
Sheff Utd2
Attempts off target
Portsmouth4
Sheff Utd3
Corners
Portsmouth6
Sheff Utd9
Fouls
Portsmouth11
Sheff Utd9
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+4:42 The referee brings the game to a close.
90:00+0:19 Carl Dickinson challenges Sam Vokes unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Neill Collins.
89:00 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Hayden Mullins by Daniel Bogdanovic. Jamie Ashdown takes the free kick.
87:10 Ched Evans is caught offside. Jamie Ashdown takes the indirect free kick.
84:36 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Bjorn Helge Riise from the right by-line, Sam Vokes has a headed effort from close range and clears the crossbar.
83:37 Foul by Ched Evans on Ricardo Rocha, free kick awarded. Indirect free kick taken by Jamie Ashdown.
82:36 Aaron Mokoena fouled by Johnny Ertl, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Aaron Mokoena.
81:09 Bjorn Helge Riise takes a short corner.
80:28 Sam Vokes takes a shot. Save made by Jamie Ashdown.
79:16 Substitution David Cotterill leaves the field to be replaced by Carl Dickinson.
78:57 A cross is delivered by Dave Kitson, Steve Simonsen makes a save.
78:06 Daniel Bogdanovic takes a shot. Save by Jamie Ashdown.
77:36 Effort on goal by Hayden Mullins from just outside the area goes harmlessly over the target.
76:41 Substitution Marcus Bent replaces Nyron Nosworthy.
76:41 Substitution Daniel Bogdanovic replaces Richard Cresswell.
73:21 Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Bjorn Helge Riise, save by Jamie Ashdown.
72:49 Nwankwo Kanu challenges Johnny Ertl unfairly and gives away a free kick. Bjorn Helge Riise delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from own half, Hermann Hreidarsson manages to make a clearance.
72:38 Nyron Nosworthy delivers the ball, clearance by Greg Halford.
71:15 Corner taken right-footed by David Cotterill, Sam Vokes manages to make a clearance.
70:28 Substitution Sam Vokes on for Michael Doyle.
69:43 Substitution Nwankwo Kanu is brought on as a substitute for Joel Ward.
69:43 Substitution Jonathan Hogg leaves the field to be replaced by Aaron Mokoena.
68:17 Dave Kitson challenges Johnny Ertl unfairly and gives away a free kick. Steve Simonsen takes the free kick.
67:30 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ricardo Rocha by Richard Cresswell. Free kick taken by Jamie Ashdown.
63:34 Effort from the edge of the box by Stephen Quinn goes wide of the right-hand upright.
63:06 Bjorn Helge Riise produces a cross, clearance made by Hayden Mullins.
62:33 Inswinging corner taken by Stephen Quinn.
59:21 Bjorn Helge Riise sends in a cross.
57:45 David Cotterill takes the inswinging corner, clearance made by Richard Cresswell.
51:01 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ricardo Rocha by Ched Evans. Free kick taken by Jamie Ashdown.
50:26 Bjorn Helge Riise takes a short corner.
48:27 Dave Kitson takes a shot. Save by Steve Simonsen. Effort from deep inside the area by David Nugent misses to the left of the goal.
45:46 Free kick awarded for a foul by Ritchie De Laet on Richard Cresswell. Bjorn Helge Riise crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right wing, Foul by Nyron Nosworthy on Jamie Ashdown, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Jamie Ashdown.
45:01 The game restarts for the second half.
Half Time
45:00+1:11 The referee calls an end to the first half.
45:00+0:20 Volleyed left-footed shot by Dave Kitson. Steve Simonsen makes a save.
43:07 Headed effort from deep inside the area by Hermann Hreidarsson misses to the right of the goal.
42:04 Corner taken right-footed by Bjorn Helge Riise to the near post, Hermann Hreidarsson manages to make a clearance.
40:33 Unfair challenge on Stephen Quinn by Jonathan Hogg results in a free kick. Lee Williamson restarts play with the free kick.
39:23 Neill Collins fouled by David Nugent, the ref awards a free kick. Nyron Nosworthy takes the free kick.
37:31 Free kick awarded for a foul by Greg Halford on Richard Cresswell. Nyron Nosworthy takes the direct free kick.
33:54 Ricardo Rocha challenges Richard Cresswell unfairly and gives away a free kick. Nyron Nosworthy takes the free kick.
32:30 The referee blows for offside against Ched Evans. Jamie Ashdown restarts play with the free kick.
30:33 Inswinging corner taken by Stephen Quinn from the right by-line played to the near post, Dave Kitson manages to make a clearance.
29:28 Stephen Quinn takes a inswinging corner to the near post, clearance by Dave Kitson.
29:10 Free kick awarded for a foul by Jonathan Hogg on Stephen Quinn. Direct free kick taken by Michael Doyle.
25:24 Inswinging corner taken by David Cotterill from the left by-line, save by Steve Simonsen.
23:22 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by David Cotterill,
23:22 GOAL - Hermann Hreidarsson:Portsmouth 1 - 0 Sheff Utd Hermann Hreidarsson finds the net with a goal from inside the six-yard box high into the middle of the goal. Portsmouth 1-0 Sheff Utd.
20:38 Neill Collins gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on David Nugent. Greg Halford fires a strike on goal direct from the free kick.
18:56 David Nugent takes a shot. Steve Simonsen makes a save.
17:41 Corner from the right by-line taken by Stephen Quinn, Ritchie De Laet manages to make a clearance.
14:25 Joel Ward sends in a cross.
13:34 Corner taken by David Cotterill, clearance made by Matthew Lowton.
12:19 Free kick awarded for a foul by Michael Doyle on David Nugent. Greg Halford takes the direct free kick.
10:48 Effort on goal by Ched Evans from outside the penalty box goes harmlessly over the bar.
Correction - 9:05 Ched Evans is adjudged to have handled the ball. Free kick taken by Jamie Ashdown.
9:05 Handball decision goes against Ched Evans. Jamie Ashdown restarts play with the free kick.
8:05 David Cotterill sends in a cross, save by Steve Simonsen.
5:26 The assistant referee flags for offside against Richard Cresswell. Free kick taken by Jamie Ashdown.
4:44 Foul by Dave Kitson on Neill Collins, free kick awarded. Steve Simonsen restarts play with the free kick.
2:11 Unfair challenge on Jonathan Hogg by Michael Doyle results in a free kick. Greg Halford takes the free kick.
0:56 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by David Cotterill played to the near post, Lee Williamson makes a clearance. Unfair challenge on Lee Williamson by Joel Ward results in a free kick. Steve Simonsen restarts play with the free kick.
0:00 The ref blows the whistle to begin the match.
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