PORTSMOUTH 4, WANDERERS 0: Teddy Sheringham slammed an inspiring second-half hat-trick as Portsmouth super-charged their way to the top of the Premiership at the expense of woeful Wanderers.

It left Wanderers to face immediate uncertainty as the survival fight they never wanted appears to have started already.

It was an awful defeat for Sam Allardyce's men who have just one point from a possible nine and are already treading water in the Premiership.

Steve Stone bundled Portsmouth in front in the 48th minute at Fratton Park, just when Wanderers could feel they had weathered the Pompey Chimes.

But then to make matters worse Sheringham added three more as Portsmouth ran riot.

After Sheringham headed home his first on 57 minutes, Wanderers looked crestfallen, prompting Allardyce to describe the final half-hour as "an embarrassing collapse"

There was no hint of the mayhem to come when the action had been fast and furious in a scoreless first 45 but for all the midfield action there was little for either side to cheer.

The atmoshere was electric with the home fans still in carnival mood after their entry into the Premiership but Wanderers did well to frustrate the likes of Patrik Berger and Teddy Sheringham with some hard work and snappy tackling.

Berger had a couple of long-range efforts but Jussi Jaaskelainen had no serious problems while Shaka Hislop had less to worry about, although he might have been struggling on seven minutes if Henrik Pedersen had managed to poke his shot on target after harassing Arjan De Zeeuw.

Bruno N'Gotty survived appeals for a penalty in the 16th minute when he used his shoulder to control the ball under pressure from Jay-Jay Okocha's Nigerian international team-mate Ayegbeni Yakubu.

But Wanderers were furious when referee Dermot Gallagher elected not to book Amdy Faye for a tackle from behind on Ivan Campo just seven minutes after carding Florent Laville for a considerably less harmful tackle on Yakubu.

Sam Allardyce had opted for experience in defence and midfield after seeing Wanderers take just one point from their opening two games, conceding six goal in the process.

Anthony Barness was drafted in at right back in place of 19-year-old Nicky Hunt, who was rested, and Per Frandsen came in for his first start, returning to midfield at the expense of Kevin Nolan, who dropped to substitute.

Premiership newcomers Portsmouth were unchanged, Harry Redknapp standing by the side that earned a 1-1 draw at Manchester City on Saturday.

Portsmouth: Hislop; Schemmel, Stefanovic, De Zeeuw, Zivkovic; Stone, Feye, Quashie, Berger; Sheringham, Yakubu. Subs: O'Neill, Pericard, Harper, Primus, Wapenaar.

Wanderers: Jaaskelainen; Barness, Laville, N'Gotty, Gardner; Frandsen, Campo, Okocha; Djorkaeff, Davies, Pedersen. Subs: Charlton, Nolan, Stelios, Jardel, Poole.

Referee: Dermot Gallagher (Banbury).

Chief Soccer Writer Gordon Sharrock is filing live reports from the stadium.

Reaction and The Big Match Verdict will appear on Wednesday.

This is how Gordon reported from the Reebok last Saturday.

14:44: SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 2003.

BARCLAYCARD PREMIERSHIP

WANDERERS V BLACKBURN ROVERS

MARIO Jardel was given a place on the substitutes' bench as Wanderers looked to bounce back from their opening day defeat at Manchester United.

The Brazilian goal machine is well short of match fitness following his transfer from Sporting Lisbon but Sam Allardyce clearly considered it was worth having him in reserve for a late appearance, if needed.

That was widely predicted, as was Youri Djorjaeff's appearance in the starting line-up after his half-hour runout as substitute at Old Trafford, although Stelios was not expected to be the man to make way.

Per Frandsen again had to settle for a place on the bench with Kevin Nolan retaining his place in midfield.

Rovers were not surprisingly unchanged after kicking off with a 5-1 hammering of Wolves. Andy Cole, who scored twice against the Premiership newcomers, was again on the bench as Graeme Souness kept faith with the Dwight Yorke-Matt Jansen partnership.

Wanderers: Jaaskelainen; Hunt, N'Gotty, Laville, Gardner; Nolan, Campo, Okocha; Djorkaeff, Davies, Pedersen. Subs: Poole, Barness, Stelios, Frandsen, Jardel.

Rovers: Friedel; Neill, Taylor, Amoruso, Gresko; Emerton, Flitcroft, Tugay, Thompson; Yorke, Jansen. Subs: Kelly, Cole, Johansson, Grabbi, Reid.

Referee: Andy D'Urso (Essex).

15:51: WANDERERS 2, ROVERS 0

Half-time

YOURI Djorkaeff gave Wanderers a flying start when he beat Brad Friedel from the penalty spot in a dramatic start to a frenetic Red Rose derby.

The Frenchman, restored to the starting line-up and with no need of the mask he wore at Old Trafford to protect his fractured cheekbone, was the epitome of cool as he beat the American keeper from 12 yards after Lucas Neill has been penalised for a foul on Jay-Jay Okocha.

Wanderers made the most of their early breakthrough and, when former Rovers striker Kevin Davies scored on his home debut on 25 minutes, they looked in complete control.

Davies, signed on a summer free from Southampton, beat Friedel with a low shot after racing onto a gem of a pass from Djorkaeff, who was having a big influence on the game.

Rovers were rattled - witnessed by bookings against Neill, Flitcroft and Emerton - and would have been further behind had Friedel not managed to get his fingertips to Henrik Pedersen's shot.

Jussi Jaaskelainen had a much quieter half at the other end, although he came close to making a rash error of judgment just before the break when he allowed David Thompson's header to float just a fraction wide of his left post.

17:03: WANDERERS 2, ROVERS 2

ROVERS snatched a dramatic injury time equaliser at the Reebok for the second successive season to deny Wanderers a winning start to their home campaign.

Dwight Yorke headed home Corrado Grabbi's cross in the fourth minute of overtime with Rovers, down to 10 men after the dismissal of Steven Reid, refusing to accept defeat.

Memories of Criag Short's injury time equaliser in last season's fixture came flooding back as once again Sam Allardyce's men squandered a winning position.

Wanderers led 2-0 at half-time after Youri Djorkaeff's third minute penalty had given them a flier and Kevin Davies had confirmed their first half superiority with a 25th minute strike.

But the second half was only five minutes old when Matt Jansen converted David Thompson's cross for an equaliser that made a game of it.

Jussi Jaaskelainen had a busier second 45 with saves from Dwight Yorke and Garry Flitcroft but Wanderers had their chances too with Davies outstanding.

It seemed to be advantage Wanderers two minutes from normal time when Reid - who had only been on the field 12 minutes - was sent off for a rash tackle on Stelios. But Rovers and Yorke in particular, never gave up.

Wanderers: Jaaskelainen; Hunt, N'Gotty, Laville, Gardner; Nolan, Campo, Okocha; Djorkaeff, Davies, Pedersen. Subs: Frandsen for Nolan 65 mins, Barness for Pedersen 76 mins, Stelios for Okocha 84 mins. Not used: Poole, Jardel.

Rovers: Friedel; Neill, Taylor, Amoruso, Gresko; Emerton, Flitcroft, Tugay, Thompson; Yorke, Jansen. Subs: Cole for Jansen 62 mins, Grabbi for Flitcroft 76 mins, Reid for Gresko 76 mins. Not used: Kelly, Johansson.

Referee: Andy D'Urso (Essex).

Attendance: 27, 423 (New stadium record).