Portsmouth definitely had one eye on next week as a rather unconvincing performance saw them manage somehow to win 2-0.

James pulled off some spectacular saves and when he wasn't there the woodwork was. This was a very frustrating day for Latics who at one point had 5 strikers on the pitch.

Latics had the first chance of the half with a great corner but Hagen was adjudged to have fouled and that was that.

After a basic save from a Kranjcar free kick, Latics were denied by Hreidarsson when Bent was ready to pull the trigger from a Skoko cross.

Valencia was next to be disappointed as his goal bound effort was fluked onto the bar by an at full stretch Glen Jonson.

Skoko and Taylor both saw efforts go as Latics grew in confidence. But then Utaka's shot gets a wicked deflection which gifts Defoe the first goal of the game.

That was Defoe's fifth goal ion five games at Fratton and was totally against the run of play.

The second half got under way with the home side applying a bit of pressure and Latics couldn't get on top of things.

But in the 62nd minute we got a penalty and Ryan Taylor placed the ball to take the kick. He hit it reasonably well but James had guessed the right way and parried the ball back out.

The ball landed back at Taylor's feet but he snapped at the shot and rocketed it over the bar. This was when we knew it wasn't going to be our day.

Bruce tried to mix it up taking Hagen, Taylor and Melchiot to have Sibierski, King and Aghahowa lining up along side Heskey and Bent.

But with all the attacking force on the pitch we just couldn't find a way past the awesome James. He pulled save after save off and when he wasn't there his woodwork was.

As is the case when we are all out for the equalising goal, we get caught on the break and Defoe claims his second deep into injury time.

We deserved at least a draw, but it wasn't to be. All credit has to be given to David James (hard for me to say because I'm not a big fan) who played out of his skin and was by far the man of the match.

As it happens there is no harm done as Bolton threw away a 2-0 lead against ten man Arsenal (sound familiar???) to lose 2-3. Fulham went 2-1 ahead after conceding early, but Derby came back to resurrect a draw.

So it is as we were, still 5 points above the relegation zone but now with 6 games to play.

Report by Jason Taylor www.cockneylatic.co.uk