BEATING Manchester United used to be the stuff of dreams for Pompey. Now it's becoming a habit.

This time last year they had not beaten the Red Devils since 1957, but goals from David Unsworth and Yakubu gave Harry Redknapp's side a second win against Sir Alex Ferguson's side in six months.

Back in April, Steve Stone scored the only goal between the sides at Fratton Park.

But this latest victory was even more impressive, arguably Pompey's best result since winning promotion to the Premiership 18 months ago.

"We also beat Liverpool and drew home and away with Arsenal last year, but this was better than last season's win against Manchester United," drooled Redknapp.

"When we played them last time they they were already out of the championship race but Alex put his best possible side out today and they would have been looking to go 15 games unbeaten after beating Arsenal.

"They needed to win to stay in the championship race and not many people would have seen them falling flat at Portsmouth."

Ferguson was full of praise for Pompey's strike quartet of Yakubu, Ricardo Fuller, Diomansy Kamara and Lomana Lua Lua.

"The set-up that Jim and Harry have with their four strikers is as good as any in the Premiership, they're powerful and dangerous and were too good for us," said the United boss.

Redknapp's side are now unbeaten in five. One of the few negatives from a memorable afternoon was the first half knee injury sustained by the in-form Kamara, who had scored two solo goals in the previous week.

But substitute Fuller won the penalty that Unsworth converted and Yakubu sealed the victory with his sixth goal of the season.

Like Ferguson, Pompey's boss recognises the awesome threat provided by his forwards.

"I know that Alex has got a lot of respect for us, he speaks to Jim an awful lot and knows how dangerous we can be on the break," added Redknapp.

"When you've got pace like we've got, with Lua Lua, Fuller, Kamara and Yakubu, you're always going to hurt teams on the break and get chances.

"I decided to play differently with three in midfield and play two wide and one through the middle because of Giggs and Ronaldo.

"But when I lost Kamara I pushed Fuller up front with Yakubu - although Lua Lua probabaly doesn't know what 4-4-2 is! We were still a very attacking team."

The suspended Ruud van Nistelrooy was the only player missing from the United side that beat Arsenal.

The visitors missed the Dutchman's finishing in the first half, when they fluffed a host of chances, with Cristiano Ronaldo the main culprit.

Pompey grew in belief.

Lua Lua had a shot cleared off the line and Amdy Faye's dipping volley was tipped over the bar by Roy Carroll in first -half injury time.

Then, in the 51st minute, Rio Ferdinand pulled Fuller's shirt and Unsworth scored his first goal since the opening day of the season when he struck the spot kick down the middle of Carroll's goal.

United hit back. Ronaldo headed a Phil Neville cross against the post only for Alan Smith to scoop the rebound over the bar.

Rooney and Ronaldo missed further chances and in the 72nd minute Yakubu made United pay for their profligacy when he latched on to Shaka Hislop's clearance and evaded the attentions of Ferdinand and Mikael Silvestre before slipping the ball past Carroll.

United threatened little after that and their title ambitions are now in tatters.

"This was a kick in the teeth and absolutely destroys what happened last week. We missed an incredible number of chances, for the quality we've got we should be doing better," added Ferguson.

Redknapp is now confident of improving on last season's 13th place, saying: "We've got a squad with more depth and we're looking upwards.

"If we do as good or better than last season it'll be a fantastic achievement."