Manchester City secured a convincing 3-1 victory over 10-man Portsmouth at Eastlands.
Inspired by the powerful Benjani Mwaruwari, City took full advantage of an off-day for the Portsmouth defence to keep themselves in with a chance of qualifying for Europe.
Benjani scored the third to seal victory and end Portsmouth's hopes of a comeback. Darius Vassell had opened the scoring after a mix-up between David James and Sol Campbell, Martin Petrov made it 2-0 before John Utaka's goal gave the visitors hope again.
But after Herman Hreidarsson's dismissal, Portsmouth were up against it and after some bad luck - they hit both posts - Benjani ended the contest.
Sven-Goran Eriksson was delighted - especially as his defence was so shorn of strength that he had to play Brazilian playmaker Elano at right-back and give a debut to 20-year-old Sam Williamson after Richard Dunne went off injured.
A cold afternoon soon warmed up and Papa Bouba Diop stung Joe Hart's hands with a 35-yard effort.
City had hardly threatened when they went ahead through Vassell, his sixth goal of the season, after a misunderstanding between Campbell and James.
renewed hope
Benjani nipped in to rob the Pompey goalkeeper, and with James stranded, played in Stephen Ireland. He looked to have missed an open target only for Vassell to slide in at the far post and make amends.
Barely two minutes later, James was picking the ball out of the back of the net again. Elano, playing out of position at right-back, found Petrov lurking on the left and he did well to lose Lauren before his stabbed shot took a deflection off the inside of Campbell's thigh to leave James wrong-footed.
It was soon 2-1 though. City's makeshift defence was found lacking when Utaka stole in for the finishing touch after Jermain Defoe had headed on Sulley Muntari's cross.
Given renewed hope, Pompey continued to attack but in doing so opened up the match and it was City who came closer to scoring again before the break.
Firstly James had to be fast out this time to smother at the feet of Vassell, then the England goalkeeper pulled off a good diving stop to deny Benjani.
Five minutes before the break, referee Andre Marriner sent off Hreidarsson.
great skill
The defender tangled with Vassell as the City striker chased a long pass. Hreidarsson was the last defender and received his marching orders.
In first-half stoppage time Vassell nearly added insult to injury with a high curling effort from deep on the right that was only matched in brilliance by James' clawing save.
Petrov's blistering pace down the left continued to prove a problem for Portsmouth in the second half, and the Bulgarian laid on a chance for Benjani but he failed to make proper contact.
Benjani fired over after great skill on the turn gave him a chance he really should have taken then immediately at the other end Portsmouth were denied by first one post and then the other.
Muntari hit the right-hand upright after dribbling past Elano and the ball rebounded to Utaka who shot first-time against the foot of the left-hand post.
Finally City ended it. Picking up Ireland's pass, Benjani's balance and strength took him past Distin and he placed the ball inside James' near-post with a minimum of fuss before the most muted of celebrations against his former side.
Hart kept it at 3-1 with a point-blank save to keep out Milan Baros, then another good dive to deny Sean Davis.
