Arjan de Zeeuw netted for the first time this season to edge Portsmouth closer to the Premiership.

But it was hardly a vintage performance from the Division One leaders, who had scored nine goals in their last two home games, and they struggled to break down their plucky opponents.

It took nearly 11 minutes for the first shot to be struck with Gillingham's Guy Ipoua driving the ball wide, and there were 18 minutes on the clock when Portsmouth carved out their first chance.

That fell to Kevin Harper, who was well placed but Gills player-manager Andy Hessenthaler blocked his effort.

The game then began to open up and Pompey's Tim Sherwood fired wide, while at the other end Paul Shaw hit the ball from the edge of the area straight at defender Linvoy Primus, who also did well to get in the way of a Rod Wallace shot.

Gillingham were creating some useful openings and goalkeeper Shaka Hislop had to be alert to deny Shaw from close range.

Three minutes before the break Paul Merson's shot was held by Jason Brown.

Portsmouth's strikers had been subdued before the break but they were more involved after the restart and Yacubu Ayegbini had a shot blocked by Barry Ashby.

But it was the surprising figure of de Zeeuw who put Harry Redknapp's men ahead in the 58th minute. Merson took a free-kick from the left and the defender headed the ball home at the far post to net his first goal for over a year.

Wallace sent the ball wide as he tried to level and his side. Their efforts proved in vain as a Shaw shot which Hislop clutched was all they could muster in the closing stages as Portsmouth held on.

Teams

Portsmouth Hislop, De Zeeuw, Festa, Primus, Harper, Sherwood, Merson (O'Neil 90), Quashie, Taylor, Ayegbini (Pericard 83), Todorov.

Subs Not Used: Kawaguchi, Diabate, Tavlaridis.

Goals: De Zeeuw 58.

Gillingham Brown, Nosworthy, Ashby, Hope, Edge, Hessenthaler, Smith, Southall, Wallace, Shaw, Ipoua (Sidibe 66).

Subs Not Used: Bartram, Leon Johnson, Spiller, Perpetuini.

Booked: Wallace.

Att: 19,521

Ref: S Dunn (Avon).