It was a run of form that began against Saints just five weeks ago.

Now, five wins in six games later, Pompey are threatening to finish above their south coast rivals in their first Premiership season.

Relegation is now unthinkable, but Harry Redknapp is still refusing to think about anything other than survival.

"We still need another result and I'll just be glad to finish fourth from bottom," said Pompey's boss, whose post match interview did not reflect his side's positive approach to a game on which so much rested before kick off.

"These games wear me out more than anything, I'd be a liar if I said I enjoyed it today, it takes a lot to get me excited, I only enjoy it when the ref blows his whistle and we've got three points."

If Redknapp's side were nervous before a game in which defeat would plunge them back into relegation trouble, they did not show it.

Much of that was to do with an early goal of high quality from Yakubu, whose tenth Premiership strike and fifth in just six games put Leeds on the back foot after just seven minutes.

Elland Road was filled to capacity but the home fans were silenced when Yakubu rose above Michael Duberry at the back post to head home Steve Stone's cross.

Amdy Faye had begun the move with a volleyed cross-field pass to Steve Stone who cut inside and, with his left foot, produced the sort of cross on which strikers thrive.

Yakubu's form has coincided with the arrivals of Lomana Lua Lua and Luther Blisset, the part-time forwards coach.

Yesterday Lua Lua, who is a far bigger threat then Teddy Sheringham away from Fratton Park, did not have his best game and received a tongue-lashing from Nigel Quashie for trying to beat his man when a simple pass would have put the midfielder in on goal.

But Yakubu is at his best alongside his fellow African, and when Lua Lua scored his fourth goal for Pompey,a header from point blank range following a corner, his back flips reminded the visiting fans they were staying up.

Shaka Hislop had still not been tested when Lua Lua reacted quickest in the Leeds' six-yard box four minutes after half-time.

And Leeds were already facing up to relegation by the time Jermaine Pennant forced Hislop into his first save, with a direct free-kick midway through the second half.

But when Lua Lua was replaced with Sheringham, Leeds looked a different side. Suddenly Yakubu was left stranded as Sheringham's lack of pace limited Pompey's ability to hit the home side on the counter attack.

It was no surprise when Leeds pulled a goal back less than ten minutes after Sheringham's introduction. But the decision to penalise Linvoy Primus was hard to fathom.

Uriah Rennie's assistant flagged when Primus and Michael Duberry tangled as the right-back tried to a defend a Leeds corner.

After strong Pompey protests, a penalty was awarded from which left- back Harte scored his first Premiership goal of the season.

The force was now with Leeds but Hislop's outstanding save from Nick Barmby three minutes later - the youngster was denied from six yards while the Pompey back four appealed for offside - ensured Redknapp's side extended their lead over Leeds to eight points.

"I always thought we would stay up, especially now I've got my best players available," added Redknapp. "All clubs need their best players. Even Man United aren't the same when they're without Van Nistelrooy, Scholes and Ferdinand."