It was the same old story at St Andrews as Blues went down 2-0 to Pompey.

Despite a new regime taking over it was another case of battling well but never creating enough chances to look like winning three points.

And it was another case of the penalty that never was just at a time when Blues were looking likely to draw level.

Pompey were gifted a goal in the first half by Richard Kingson to Sully Muntari and this was added to by a fantastic strike by Niko Kranjcar late in the second half.

Unfortunately this has been a week of goal keeping mistakes and Croatians taking the headlines and today was no exception.

Eric Black made his first team selection as caretaker boss and made three changes to the side defeated two weeks ago.

The biggest change was awarding Richard Kingson his Premier League debut at the expense of Maik Taylor.

Cameron Jerome was still unfit after his hernia operation and Wilson Palacios was on compassionate leave.

Back came Gary McSheffrey on the left and up front was fit again Mikael Forssell.

It was quite an open start to the game on a completely miserable afternoon as the rain poured down on St Andrews. Blues had fractionally more of the play but each time David James was there to safely collect the ball.

In the eighth minute Ridgewell accidentally caught the giant Papa Bouba Diop in his midriff with his studs as his leapt to the head the ball clear.

He was penalised for the challenge but not cautioned as Diop protested.

Blues fans were in fine form early on chanting 'We want Mourinho!'.

Moments later Kingson was forced to make his first save of the game.

Croatian Niko Kranjcar tied his luck with a looping shot from 25-yards that the Blues keeper had to spring to his left to push round the post.

In the 20th minute Blues created their best chance of the game through Mikael Forssell.

Rafael Schmitz swung the ball into the box to the Finn who chested the ball down before drilling the ball low towards the bottom corner where James somehow got his outstretched hand to it.

Chances were few and far between and when they did come they were wide of the mark.

In the 32nd minute Sully Muntari fired a volley from the edge of the box high into the Tilton.

Two minutes late it was Muntari who gave Pompey the lead.

Fabrice Muamba allowed him to gain possession in the box before he hit a tame shot at Kingson that rolled straight through his arms.

It possibly summed up the week for Blues with the visitors hardly looking like the free-scoring side we've seen on their travels this season and gifted a goal.

Blues almost got straight back into the game with the Pompey defence at sixes and sevens but managing to scramble away Blues response.

Blues continued to rally with claims for a penalty when Forssell went tumbling in the box under pressure from Campbell but play on was the decision.

Moments later Mehdi Nafti tied his luck from distance a shot that James s could only gather at the second attempt with no-one there to capitalise on the rebound.

Sean Davis was the first man in the book in the 40th minute for a foul on Forssell just inside Pompey territory.

The half-time whistle went as Blues fans were still left wondering how their team were a goal down.

Half-time Blues 0-1 Pompey

Once again Blues were first to apply pressure with McSheffrey's interception straight from the kick-off sending Forssell forwards but he was thwarted by Campbell.

McSheffrey was on the move again moments later robbing Utaka on the halfway line but despite racing forwards into a good position his cross was poor.

Blues continued the pressure with Schmitz's cross sliced over his own goal line by Distin.

Blues were almost caught out when Utaka raced into the box but fortunately his team mate Pamarot came in at the last minute to chip the ball over.

The game was a far cry to the first half with both sides throwing caution to the wind and chances at either end.

Next to try his luck from distance was Pompey's top scorer Benjani but this time Kingson saved well.

Gary McSheffrey was the first Blues man in the book in the 58th minute for a wild challenge on Glen Johnson that the full-back actually rode before racing forwards.

On the hour mark Muamba hooked the ball over to McSheffrey who completely mis-hit his volley as Pompey regrouped.

The visitors broke away immediately with Benjani looking yards offside but Kingson came racing out to head the ball clear.

In the 62nd minute Muntari's free-kick was charged down by Nafti and went skidding towards goal.

Benjani looked odds on to get to the ball but Kingson made an unbelievably brave save getting his fingertips to it to keep Blues hopes alive.

Pompey were looking dangerous now and it was Muntari again in the box but this time Kelly had been drawn across goal and blocked his shot for a corner.

The visitors were creating the clearer of the chances and that man Muntari tested Kingson again with a rasping low shot that the Blues keeper palmed away to safety.

Once again Blues were robbed of a blatant penalty in the 73rd minute when Ridgewell raced into the area was flattened by Pamarot with only James to beat.

Amazingly Mr Atkinson waved play-on as McSheffrey tried to still grab the equaliser he collided with Distin and left requiring treatment.

Garry O'Connor replaced the injured Gary McSheffrey in the 75th minute.

A minute later Mehdi Nafti was needlessly booked for pulling back Diop.

Blues thought they had equalised when Ridgewell rifled the ball into the top corner but unfortunately he had just strayed offside as the play was played over to him.

Matthew Taylor replaced John Utaka in the 81st minute.

It was game over in the 82nd minute when Niko Kranjcar smashed in an unbelievable free-kick from 25 yards straight past the helpless Kingson.

Benjani was booked deep into injury time for yet another trip on Ridgewell.

The final whistle was greeted with boos as Pompey went home after their first victory at St Andrews in the top flight in 58 years.

The Blues fans went home wondering what is around the corner now?

Full time: Blues 0 Pompey 2

Blues: Richard Kingson, Stephen Kelly, Rafael Schmitz, Liam Ridgewell, Johan Djourou, Gary McSheffrey (75,Garry O'Connor), Fabrice Muamba, Mehdi Nafti, Daniel De Ridder, Olivier Kapo, Mikael Forssell

Bookings: Gary McSheffrey (58), Mehdi Nafti (76)

Portsmouth: David James, Glenn Johnson, Noe Pamarot, Sol Campbell, Sylvain Distin, Niko Kranjcar, Pape Bouba Diop, Sean Davis, Sully Muntari, John Utaka (81, Matthew Taylor), Benjani

Goals: Sully Muntari(34), Niko Kranjcar(82)

Bookings: Sean Davis(40), Benjani (90)

Attendance: 22,089

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