NO CLOUDS threatened to obscure this solar event.It was almost as if the weather was booked in advance to ensure that Milan Mandaric had nothing to rain on his parade.

A bristling full house, three points on opening day and a good performance was the sort of dish to set before the king.

And though there may be stormy days ahead it wouldn't be right to allow such thoughts to creep in.

Mandaric's regime began with a 2-0 win over Sheffield United, courtesy of the Boy From Brazil and the wily old campaigner.

Stefani Miglioranzi opened his account for the club, and even when a rash, needless challenge conceded a penalty, you knew it was going to be Pompey's day even before Paul Devlin clipped the top of the bar with his kick to provide the sunshine smiles.

Having been brought up in New York, Miglioranzi's football heritage is more Bronx and Yonkers than Ipanema and Copacabana but he's the sort of player Alan Ball drools over.

As you'd expect with his Brazilian genes, Miglioranzi has got 'The Touch'. He has the vision to see a pass early and the tools to deliver.

He'll still have to come to terms with certain aspects. When Sheffield United entrusted Shaun Derry to sit on him second-half, Miglioranzi's effectiveness was cut and part of the learning process for him will be to learn how to find his own space. Patience is a part of that, although he showed he doesn't lack that with the manner in which he took his goal. Played through by Jeff Peron he delayed and waited until Simon Tracey was committed to his drive before clipping the ball over him.

Not that he's the sole passmaster in the middle. Jeff Peron and Alan McLoughlin got in on the act and while some of Pompey's football going forward was a delight to watch, you wonder whether there are too many artists at the expense of a roadmender.

Pompey do lack a natural anchor, the Blades were certainly allowed back into the game and it needed two good saves from Aaron Flahavan to keep them out.

But for all Miglioranzi's creative skills, Ball will have been just as pleased with Jason Cundy's destructive ones at the back.

Cundy was solid. He edged the aerial battle with Petr Katchouro, while his reading of the game, and the spot-on assessment of the timing of his challenges was crucial as the Blades rallied after the break.

Up front, Rory Allen showed more appetite for the real thing than for pre-season friendlies.

Naturally, the last word went to Guy Whittingham. While those whose money was floating on him for the first goal would have been disappointed, he showed the hunter's natural patience. Like a tiger waiting at a water hole Whittingham will wait all game for a chance if necessary and when it comes along, he'll despatch it.

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.