Steve Stone tucked away his first goal since August and then joined Portsmouth's backs-to-the-wall battle which brought them a new boost in their relegation fight.

Stone's first half strike secured a first win in 47 years against Manchester United who virtually waved goodbye to their Premiership title at Fratton Park.

A frantic seige ended with Portsmouth players stretching ever sinew to defy mounting, almost unbearable pressure, with United claiming a penalty in the 89th minute when they insisted it was a hand that helped a Gary Neville overhead shot over the crossbar.

And even later in the sunlit South Coast, substitute Ronaldo's swerving free kick missed the far post by a fraction.

But for sheer attrition and guts, Pompey fully earned their 10th win of the season - nine of them at home - which was also United's seventh of the campaign, leaving Sir Alex Ferguson's team 13 points adrift of leaders Arsenal and still three behind second placed Chelsea.

Linvoy Primus, Dejan Stefanovic, Arjan de Zeeuw, Alexei Smertin and, of course, Stone were the pick of the Portsmouth heroes and never had the Pompey chimes rung around the ground so proudly.

But United had for too long looked a shadow of their familiar selves without Ruud van Nistelrooy, Roy Keane, even Phil Neville.

They could also have done with Ronaldo much earlier from the bench but a blistering 40-yards run by Ryan Giggs revived old memories after 20 minutes of toil.

He opened the Pompey defence right up, with a touch of George Best, but unlike the Irishman - now a big Pompey fan and pal of chairman Milan Mandaric - he could not get his shot away.

Crosses from full backs Neville and John O'Shea troubled Portsmouth all day and although Paul Scholes played deep in the Keane role they looked to be getting closer and closer to a goal with great work by Mikael Silvestre in the 26th minute.

He broke up a Pompey raid just past the half-way line, swept beyond two opponents and helped set up Solskjaer whose rusty reactions after a long injury-lay off were betrayed by Hislop's brave dive at his feet.

But United were slipshod at the back and a careless error by Wes Brown allowed the alert Berkovic to tempt Lomana LuaLua forward on a clear run at goal from the right. The winger's first touch was as bad as Brown's and United were relieved to clear.

Stome, however, summoned up a sighter, striking a long shot well over before he snatched the lead with his first goal since August.

LuaLua's right-wing cross missed Stone at the near post but squirted back acroos the goal as Yakubu and Neville duelled for it at the far side.

And Stone slammed it in from a few yards, with a wary look at a linesman whose flag stayed firmly at his side - with television replays showing Silvestre had played him on.

United barely seemed to protest, though, and instead set about seeking instant reply - Saha's header being tipped over by Hislop before the keeper fell on an O'Shea shot.

Stone was vibrant now in his new central midfield role and shot over and then crossed dangerously to almost bring further goals before the break although it was Yakubu who had the best chance of all.

The big Nigerian's shot screwed over after a poor header down by Brown who had almost let him in during the opening minute.

When Berkovic did not appear for the second half it looked a major blow for Pompey but two banks of four players stubbornly resisted United's pressure and Hislop was relatively untroubled despite nine corners.

Ronaldo initially appeared to make a difference but the nimble Russian Smertin took over as breakaway leader, keeping United fully occupied whenever their pass-and-move raids broke down, usually through over-embellishment.

And he had willing runners in LuaLua and Yakubu, whose energy and commitment allowed boss Harry Redknapp to leave old United favourite Teddy Sheringham on the bench until 12 minutes from time.

They could have clinjched it too before the late scare from Ronaldo when Yakubu's run and shot was met by Roy Carroll's brave block at the start of stoppage time.

Teams

Portsmouth Hislop, Primus, Stefanovic, De Zeeuw, Stone, Faye, Smertin, Berkovic (Quashie 45), Taylor, LuaLua (Sheringham 79), Yakubu.

Subs Not Used: Wapenaar, Curtis, Harper.

Booked: Sheringham, Taylor.

Goals: Stone 36.

Man Utd Carroll, Gary Neville, Brown, Silvestre, O'Shea (Fletcher 74), Butt (Bellion 89), Scholes, Djemba-Djemba (Ronaldo 58), Giggs, Saha, Solskjaer.

Subs Not Used: Howard, Pugh.

Booked: Gary Neville.

Att: 20,140

Ref: N Barry (N Lincolnshire).