Manchester United picked up their first win of the season with a 1-0 triumph at Portsmouth.

It was only their second victory in the last six visits to Fratton Park and it was thanks to a scruffy 33rd-minute goal claimed by Darren Fletcher which will probably go down as a Sylvain Distin own-goal.

Patrice Evra's cross from the left struck both Sol Campbell and Fletcher - United's scorer in a 1-1 draw with Newcastle United last week - and was creeping past a stranded David James when Distin's frantic attempt to clear off the line sent the ball spiralling into the roof of the net.

Pompey were a little unlucky with a few near-misses but finished pointless after two matches having failed to really test goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar.

Hermann Hreidarsson was left out and Portsmouth lined up with three centre-backs, and Traore and Papa Bouba Diop expected to give some attacking width on the flanks.

Diop almost surprised United in the first 15 seconds. His shot from 25 yards was not far off mark - and it was doubtful whether Van der Sar would have got there had it been on target.

United, without the suspended Nani, soon replied with Wes Brown making a run down the right and cutting the ball back for Rooney who shot strongly on the turn but straight at James.

Portsmouth were bright and lively at the start, with Lassana Diarra typically busy in the midfield.

They wanted a penalty after 13 minutes when a cross from Davis on the right seemed to brush the hand of Nemanja Vidic, but referee Chris Foy rightly decided there was no intent.

Diop was booked five minutes later for bringing down Tevez from behind, and it needed a smart save by James to hold Paul Scholes' thumping free-kick from nearly 30 yards.

United were beginning to move the ball about well, but Portsmouth had two chances in two minutes midway through the first half.

Jermain Defoe tried to carve out an opening for Peter Crouch and received a bonus when Anderson inadvertently helped the ball on to the former Liverpool striker.

But Evra saved United with a recovery tackle that just did enough to put Crouch off his stride with only Van der Sar to beat from eight yards.

A corner on the right delivered by Davis then threatened United and Kaboul, coming in late, steered a free header wide when he could have done better.

Yet it was United who went in front after 33 minutes with a scruffy goal claimed by Fletcher as his second of the season.

Evra raided along the left flank and when the ball came across, Fletcher bundled the ball beyond James.

Portsmouth did not deserve to be behind and came back with determination.

When Campbell stepped up to challenge for Glen Johnson's free-kick in the box, the ball ran loose for Defoe to hook a spectacular effort over the bar from close in.

Rooney soon showed the threat United posed at the other end though. He met Brown's pass at the edge of the area, lost Kaboul with a magical touch and fired a low shot inches wide of James' right-hand post.

Brown was booked for a bad foul on Traore but Portsmouth failed to cash in on the free-kick and went into the break behind.

Tevez started a slick move which ended with Rooney penetrating the area and slipping a low cross into the six-yard box where Anderson just failed to force it past Campbell and James.

Portsmouth struggled to reproduce the fiery performance they had shown in the first half, and Traore was taken off after 53 minutes to be replaced by winger Jerome Thomas.

Thomas was soon in action, hitting a blistering angled shot which Van der Sar had to punch away.

And when Distin went forward to hurl in a long throw from the left, Crouch was up above Brown to fashion a header at the near post but Van der Sar dropped nimbly onto it.

Rooney and Tevez were a handful even for three centre-backs, but manager Redknapp was committed to coming out of the match with at least a point and sent on right-winger John Utaka for midfielder Davis after 65 minutes, playing with effectively four forwards.

But Portsmouth occasionally dallied over clearing their lines and Kaboul lost possession on one occasion, allowing Scholes to hit a fierce shot which struck Johnson and went out for a corner.

Vidic ventured forward and headed over the bar after only a token challenge by the home defenders.

Pompey's late efforts were mostly confirmed to long range as United played out time in relative comfort with Van der Sar virtually untested by the final whistle.