Portsmouth 1 Wanderers 2: THERE have been more convincing victories and more impressive performances but Wanderers produced one of the defining moments of the season when they claimed the three points at Fratton Park last night.

The goals from Michael Ricketts and Bo Hansen weren't the most spectacular either but they secured a win that delivered a bodyblow to double derby rivals Blackburn and the rest of the pack chasing a ticket to the Premiership.

Sam Allardyce isn't yet talking in terms of catching Fulham but he'll be sorely tempted to if things continue to go his way.

For while just about everyone - Ladbroke's included - has conceded that the Division One title is on its way to Craven Cottage, Wanderers have nudged to within SEVEN points of Jean Tigana's "champions-elect" and opened a lead of NINE points above Graeme Souness' Rovers!

How soon will it be, you may well ask, before the bookies declare that the second automatic promotion place is in the bag?

With 14 games still to play, nothing is decided yet but Allardyce could not conceal his excitment as he spoke of "pinnacles" after chalking up a tenth away win - just one short of the club's all-time record.

"These are three very, very valuable points," the manager said, measuring the distinct advantage Wanderers now have on their promotion rivals, despite having dropped four points to relegation-haunted teams in their previous two games.

"I think that's why I was so excited at the end. Had we lost it would have been draw-draw-loss and the nerve ends could start jangling a little bit but we've gone draw-draw-win and we're undefeated in eight. That's going to get the confidence back again.

"We're actually on a better run than Fulham at this moment in time and we've opened up a good gap between ourselves and Blackburn. So we don't quite have to look over our shoulder as much to see what Blackburn are doing.

"I'm more concerned with getting the amount of points we need. It's more about getting closer to Fulham and not about catching them but, if we get another victory against Grimsby next Tuesday and we can get them to look over their shoulders a little bit more, they may continue the 'bad' run that they are having. The most important thing though is to keep our undefeated run going and make sure the nine point gap stays between us and Blackburn. With games beginning to run out, they'll be looking up at us and, I hope, it's becoming a more daunting task for them."

Victory No 19 had all the hallmarks of the team that Sam built. The formula a familiar one with Ricketts the lone striker and Hansen and Ricardo Gardner working the wide positions - sitting in when Portsmouth had the ball, breaking swiftly and savagely when possession was turned over. Classic counter-attacking with the go-betweens - Per Frandsen, Kevin Nolan and Gareth Farrelly - fetching and carrying, which has made Wanderers as formidable away from home as they have been at the Reebok. (Significantly Allardyce's Notts County won the 97-98 title with 12 home wins and 14 away!).

Pompey can count themselves unlucky in that they created enough chances to have provided an even greater test of Wanderers' resolve than in the six nailbiting minutes or so at the end after Michael Panopoulos hooked in an unstoppable shot to pull one back.

But, as home skipper Scott Hiley conceded, they only had themselves to blame. "We were unlucky, especially on their first goal, but you make your own luck in this game and we didn't take our chances. It's our fault. The goal at the end was too little too late.

"They took their chances ... that's why they are second in the league."

Yet, although Lee Sharpe, Lee Bradbury and Nigel Quashie all spurned first half chances, Wanderers had racked up as many opportunities at the other end with Ricketts hitting Pompey hard on the break and the will o'th wisp Gardner unfortunate to see his effort bounce off the bar.

When the stalemate was broken three minutes into the second half - Ricketts converting his 18th of the season after Jason Crowe's clearance ricocheted into his path off Quashie - it came as no real surprise to Allardyce.

"According to our statistics, they have been suspect early in the second half," he explained. "They concede a lot of their goals between the 45th and 60th minutes and it's happened again. Coming out for the second half, they seem not to be fully-focused and we capitalised on that - although we did need a bit of luck."

Nevertheless, with Pompey pressing and Bradbury going close, it could still have gone either way ... until Gardner produced the pass of the game to tee up Hansen for a goal that was no more than he deserved for another hard-working performance.

"We did it the patient way," Allardyce said. "We did it by frustrating the opposition, which is sometimes the right way to play away from home. While Portsmouth had a lot of possession we limited them to a few chances and they were our own mistakes rather than good play by them - although we were fortunate to get away with one just before half time.

"The second goal was vital for us and, although they scored with that fabulous strike, we played the game out really well."