Struggling Portsmouth stunned First Division promotion hopefuls Millwall with a thoroughly convincing victory at Fratton Park.

Two goals in the opening 10 minutes from Leonardo Biagini and Gary O'Neil put Pompey firmly in the driving seat at the interval.

Any hopes of a Millwall revival in the second half were quickly quashed when Courtney Pitt scored a third, and their miserable afternoon was completed when Steve Claridge's last-minute penalty was saved by Dave Beasant.

The south coast club opened the scoring in the fifth minute when striker Biagini collected the ball on the edge of the penalty area and drilled a shot into the bottom corner.

And the Lions were still reeling from that early setback when Graham Rix's side launched another decisive break in the 10th minute.

After another flowing move, O'Neil struck a sweet first-time volley into the top corner to double their advantage.

The visitors tried to hit back straight away but Neil Harris' 18-yard shot was blocked by David Waterman.

O'Neil almost turned provider in the 20th minute when his cross found the head of Peter Crouch, but the former QPR striker could only direct a tame header straight at Tony Warner.

Portsmouth continued to push forward and both Biagini and Crouch forced fine saves from the impressive Warner.

Robert Ryan relieved some of the pressure on the Millwall defence when he surged forward and forced a save from veteran shot-stopper Beasant.

But the hosts always looked dangerous on the counter-attack and Crouch struck a fierce shot against the woodwork in the 32nd minute.

Millwall will have been delighted to hear the half-time whistle and a chance to regroup.

But the interval did not affect Pompey's concentration and they almost added a third in the 48th minute when Warner produced a fine stop to deny Crouch.

However, Pompey killed the game as a contest in the 51st minute when Pitt drilled home a shot from 18 yards.

Millwall, to their credit, never gave in and Marc Bircham went close with a fierce 18-yard shot.

They had a chance to score a consolation effort when they were awarded a penalty after Shaun Derry handled.

But Beasant, who saved a penalty from John Aldridge in the 1988 FA Cup final, guessed right again to keep out Claridge's spot-kick.

Teams

Portsmouth: Beasant, Vincent, Buxton, Primus (Hiley 66), Waterman, Pitt (Lovell 60), Quashie, Derry, O'Neil (Curtis 47), Crouch, Biagini.

Subs Not Used: Tardif, Vine.

Booked: Curtis, Lovell.

Goals: Biagini 5, O'Neil 10, Pitt 52.

Millwall: Warner, Ryan, Dyche, Nethercott, Lawrence, Kinet (Bull 75), Cahill, Bircham, Ifill, Claridge, Harris (Braniff 56).

Subs Not Used: Gueret, Ward, Reid.

Booked: Bircham, Kinet.

Att: 15,221

Ref: P Danson (Leicester).